TennZip

really good first half

https://ukathletics.com/news/2021/2/24/mens-soccer-kentucky-to-welcome-akron-on-thursday.aspx Kentucky preview of the game. Game will be available on ESPN+

As Coach Embick mentioned, Kentucky was able to play soccer in the fall. He also mentioned that Kentucky has a 7-1 record. Here are their results: Fall: 1-0 LOSS at Notre Dame 4-2 home win over Duke 3-1 home win over Louisville 2-1 home win in overtime over Central Arkansas 3-1 home win over Mercer 2-0 home win over UAB Spring 2-1 overtime win at home over Xavier 1-0 overtime win on the road against Duke

this does not directly relate to the Kentucky game. However, I had not seen this 5 minute interview with Coach Embick (before the Pittsburgh game) so, I thought that I would post it here...to help all of us become familiar with the new names I admit....after listening to these 2 interviews...I would not feel confident predicting a starting lineup. in the interview below, Coach Embick says that Daniel and Carlo could be the best centerback duo in the country. Also mentions that they are both captains. I was expecting that Carlo and Marco Milanese would be the 2 starting centerbacks? Coach Embick praised Nick Scott and Tonny Temple in first video. I am not sure where they will line up on the field. One thing that I know....is that I have faith in Coach Embick, Ger and Michael Nanchoff to make wise decisions. Go, Zips !!!

Well, we are one day away from the Kentucky game. No one has started this topic yet. I just saw on the soccer facebook page that they had posted a 75 second video with Jared talking about the Kentucky game.

former zip...changing teams https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2021/02/22/nashville-sc-acquire-defender-nick-hinds-seattle-sounders

Monster performance, indeed !! https://www.sounderatheart.com/2021/2/20/22293008/deandre-yedlin-monster-performance-in-galatasaray-win

phenomenal pass by DeAndre

I will let someone else start the game topic for Kentucky (maybe....Mr. FknBufLobo will have better luck than me) I started this topic....and had to change the title 2 times.... I must have bad karma....go, Zips

https://collegesoccernews.com/exciting-and-very-competitive-mens-college-soccer-contests-are-slated-for-this-weekend/ Akron at Pitt....is the first game....that they highlight

hopefully, warmer temps on Sunday will be good for the zips

I just googled ACC Network extra and this is what I found: What is ACC Network Extra? ACC Network Extra is a streaming-only option, offered exclusively through WatchESPN and the ESPN app, that airs many of the games not shown on the ACC Network.

on the spring schedule topic, Zip_ME87 posted that the game was showing on the ESPN+ schedule for Feb. 20 on the pitt schedule, it shows as ACC network extra However, on the right of the screen...it shows a link for live stats...and a tv screen link when I click on tv screen, it takes to an ESPN screen and asks me to log in I think if you pay monthly for ESPN+, you should be able to see the game. https://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=725413e4-ebec-40a7-9c22-4bffda33afe4 the zip website has an article on the MAC conference voting https://gozips.com/news/2021/2/16/akron-mens-soccer-selected-to-capture-mac-title.aspx snippet from that article: Akron opens its campaign this week visiting third-rated Pittsburgh on Saturday, Feb. 20. The 3 p.m. contest with the Panthers will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Looks like 3 of the 6 coaches in the MAC predict that Akron will finish first in the league

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2021/2/16/mens-soccer-akron-selected-to-take-2021-mac-soccer-title.aspx

this has photos of their 2 hermann trophy candidates https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2021/1/28/mens-soccer-noel-petkovic-named-to-mac-hermann-trophy-watch-list.aspx

https://www.giveto.pitt.edu/s/1729/18/interior-giving.aspx?sid=1729&gid=2&pgid=4439&cid=10797&ecid=10797&crid=0&calpgid=2135&calcid=3585 I could not find a link to click in your post....I think this is what you wanted to attach

Let's get this topic started....for the first game of a new and exciting year What do we know about the opponent? Coached by former Wake Forest legendary coach Jay Vidovich Top Drawer soccer(TDS) has them rated pre-season as the #3 team in the country (TDS has the zips at 6) College soccer news has Pitt rated at #8 (our beloved zips are pre-season #26) Pittsburgh played soccer in the fall...and did quite well 3-1 win over Notre Dame on the road 3-2 double overtime win over Syracuse on the road 4-2 win over Va. Tech at home (10 goals in their first 3 games.....impressive high powered offense) 3-2 overtime win over Virginia on the road 4-1 win over the Louisville Cardinals on the road (17 goals in their 5 regular season games ....in ACC competition...wow ) ACC tournament 2-1 quarterfinal win over the Dukies....(game played in Raleigh) 3 days...later....3-1 semifinal win for Notre Dame (game played in Raleigh) 4 days later....2-1 loss in the ACC finals to Clemson (game played in Cary at Wake Med Soccer Park) https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2021/2/12/mens-soccer-pitt-welcomes-defending-national-champion-georgetown-for-exhibition.aspx the article above...has many good facts....on Pitt to highlight a few....and compare to the zips Top Drawer soccer(TDS) ....has put zip standout center back Carlo Ritaccio on their preseason 3rd team All America list TDS.....has one Pitt Player on their first team preseason All America team...and another player on their 2nd team All America list TDS....also does a preseason top 100 player list (Sophomores, juniors and seniors) Zips had Carlo at 24 and Colin Biros at 37 TDS...has 4 Pitt Players on their list ....#8 ; #15 ; #50 and #71 TDS...also put a Pitt Freshman on their 11 player preseason All Freshman TDS...did not select any zips to their All Freshman list this biased writer (yes, me...the always opinionated TennZip!!!)...says boo on TDS....Jason Shokalook....will be on TDS....all freshman list...after the season is over going to another source of info......The Hermann Trophy is presented after the season to the nation's best college soccer player....The group does a preseason Hermann Trophy watch list... I think that the list is normally about 45 players....No zips were included on the preseason watch list...2 Pitt Panthers...are on the Hermann Trophy Watch list both are sophomores.... 5'10 midfielder Valentin Noel from France...who has an active streak of 6 straight games with a goal scored https://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/valentin-noel/10999 5'10 midfielder Veljko Petkovic (Serbia) scored 2 goals this year in one game against Notre Dame...had another game this year against Louisville ..where he had 2 assists https://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/veljko-petkovic/11001 the zips did catch a break yesterday....Pitt was scheduled to play their one scheduled exhibition game yesterday against defending national champ Georgetown game had to be cancelled due to covid concerns in the Georgetown soccer program zips....getting to play 2 exhibition games...will help them against Pitt..... that is all I know.....can't wait for the game next Saturday....I am sure that Coach Embick will have the guys ready....Go, zips !!!

Congratulations to Sam Harter for being names to the Beacon Journal boys soccer all star team https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/02/14/beacon-journal-boys-soccer-all-star-team-features-multiple-players-hudson-copley-revere/6720282002/ Harter, a University of Akron men's soccer commit, was named the SLAC Player of the Year in 2020. He also was selected to the Division I All-Ohio second team as a senior midfielder, and was a first-team All-District and first team All-SLAC choice in each of the past three seasons. Harter finished his four-year varsity career with 29 goals and 22 assists at Copley.

good, legitimate question. Discussion is needed and welcome on this board. I am a passionate fan but I sure don't consider myself a "futbol expert." Your question is really hard to answer due to Covid restrictions. Normally, by this point....the local futbol experts on this board would have seen several practices. Several posters on this board would have seen both exhibition matches. That being said, I remember the 0-7 start from 2019. The zips open the season with #3 Pittsburgh, #9 Marshall and #12 Kentucky. Confidence and momentum are gained more easily by wins. Losing 2 exhibition games against teams not ranked in the top 25..... does not provide momentum. Pittsburgh and Kentucky both played matches in the fall. I would be lying if I said that I was not concerned about the possibility of another slow start to the season. Top drawer soccer has the zips rated as 6 in the country. College soccer news has the zips as a pre season number 26. I hope that the game at Pittsburgh is streamed so we can have "informed" discussion on the board. Coach Embick's comments in the Welker interview were very encouraging. I am a huge Diogo Pacheco fan. If he stays healthy, I think that he can do very good things. This team has 2 kids up front....(Jason Shokalook and Tonny Temple)....that were ranked in the top 50 by top drawer soccer. Neither was in the starting lineup for either exhibition and none of us know the minutes played for those 2 key upfront guys and the starter for both games (Will Jackson). Like Zip_ME87 said, we need to see improvement from 2019.....in controlling possession in the midfield and scoring goals. Dyson Clapier sounds like a great January addition. Wil Meyer held the zips scoreless in 110 minutes in the 2018 NCAA quarterfinal. Experienced goal keeper and 2 experienced talented center backs.....is a great backbone for this team. Not sure where Daniel Strachan will play...but he is a leader....and was arguably the 2019 MVP. There are many reasons for optimism .......but this team has many new pieces.... Pittsburgh will be a humongous test. Go, Zips

Jason Shokalook did not start but appears to have been on the field when Diogo Pacheco scored

a few different starters from last week