TennZip

A very reliable source has shared with me that Adam Najem will represent Afghanistan in world cup qualifying. Qatar on Sept. 5 ...then play Bangladesh on September 10th Congratulations, Adam on this outstanding accomplishment.

I am extremely happy for Richie Laryea. After 3 years in Orlando, Richie is doing very well in Toronto. The young man is tremendously proud to be part of the Canada national team.

this 1 minute video is very well done and extremely inspiring

Carlo did a great job with this interview. He is very personable. Akron made a wise choice to make this sophomore one of the 4 team captains. Sammy Tojaga and Carlo Ritaccio are both warriors on the soccer field.

as we all remember, Carlo received a red card very late in the title game against Maryland. Most of us (myself included) felt that the foul only deserved a yellow card. As a result of the red card, Carlo must sit out the next game that Akron plays (in this case, first game of the season)

this has a good 3.5 minute video with coach Embick https://gozips.com/news/2019/8/29/mens-soccer-opens-65th-anniversary-campaign-at-xavier.aspx

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/mens-preview:-opening-weekend-tests_aid46653 No. 2 Akron at Xavier, 7 p.m. (goxavier.com) With a number of returning starters, the Zips enter this season with plenty of ambition and dreams of a third straight College Cup appearance. David Egbo should continue to emerge as one of the top striker’s in college soccer, Skye Harter anchors the midfield and super sophomore Carlo Ritaccio guides the back line. It’ll be the first chance to see the program’s 17-player recruiting class, which could see the likes of Mani Austmann and Will Jackson step into big roles. The hosts Xavier will seek to get things off to a strong start, incorporating a Top 10 recruiting class of their own. Senior Samson Sergi earned Preseason All-Big East honors, and it’ll be interesting to see if the likes of Karsen Henderlong and defender Johannes Sundgot start from the first game

https://goxavier.com/news/2019/8/29/mens-soccer-plays-host-to-no-2-3-akron-in-season-opener.aspx

Congratulations to Drew on his promotion

https://www.ohio.com/sports/20190828/university-of-akron-mens-soccer-talented-zips-have-lofty-goal

https://www.collegesoccernews.com/index.php/articles/1335-a-look-at-some-very-challenging-early-season-contests #3 Akron travels to Cincinnati to face Xavier on Friday, August 30 then returns home to host #5 Stanford at First Energy Stadium on Monday, September 2. Xavier under Andy Fleming tends to rise to the occasion in contests like this so put the Akron vs. Xavier contest on the upset alert list. The big question is whether or not Xavier's defense can contain Akron's attack. Stanford returns a veteran group that should be very solid on both sides of the ball but questions remain in regard to offensive productivity. Akron has started slowly in the past and tends to be vulnerable in the early going. A slow start in 2019 could equate to two losses for the Zips.

I am not sure that the webcast will be free??? zip website says TV....will be goxavier.com the link takes you to xavier all access gives you choice of sign up or log in signup...says $6.95 for 24 hour pass

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/mens-impact-division-i-signees-for-2019_aid46635 very nice words about Bradley Chick D Bradley Chick, Akron The Australian defender can play as a right back or centrally. He missed a chunk of preseason while on youth national team duty, but can slot in along the back and add depth at either position on a very good Akron side. Iceland midfielder Mani Austmann and Ohio forward Will Jackson have also gotten significant minutes for the Zips and should be assets in their first seasons of college soccer.

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2019-big-east-preview_aid46636 this article says that Xavier has a top 10 recruiting class (TDS has Xavier at 9 for recruiting class and Akron at 20)

a zip on first team...a zip on 3rd team https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2019-tds-preseason-mens-best-xi-teams_aid46630

any zip fans ...making the trip....to Cincy....will hear the unpleasant sounds of vuvuzuelas Friday, August 30 vs. Akron OPENING NIGHT NATIONAL COLLEGE COLORS DAY: Wear your Xavier blue! STUDENT PROMO: Vuvuzelas to first 500 students. POST-GAME PENALTY KICKS: All kids in grades 8 & under are invited to the field after the game to participate in penalty kicks.

article from Channel 5 https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/akron-canton-news/university-of-akron-mens-soccer-ranked-no-3-in-the-country

Fear the Roo, Indeed !!!

tweet from MACSports

I guess that I will start a topic for this important road opener. Xavier played a tough exhibition schedule. In their 3rd and final exhibition game, they played a final four team from last year...the Michigan State Spartans... Xavier and MSU played to a 0-0 tie in their 2nd Game, Xavier defeated Valparaiso 3-1 in their first game , they played the gridiron school in Columbus...Xavier and the school sometimes known as Blowhio State...played to 1-1 tie. You can see in article below that Xavier has a preseason all conference forward that will be matched up against Tor and Carlo and the rest of the back line under this coach, Xavier is 59-19-2 on their home field...and they do play in the Big East (so they play some good teams) https://goxavier.com/news/2019/8/21/mens-soccer-samson-sergi-named-to-preseason-all-big-east-team.aspx