TennZip

https://herdzone.com/news/2019/9/20/mens-soccer-back-on-the-pitch-as-akron-comes-to-huntington.aspx This Marshall team is much better than their teams in prior years. Marshall has already defeated Butler and S. Carolina. Akron's performance against Pitt was its worst game of the season....by far. The 1-0 score was very misleading. The final could have easily been Pitt 4-0 or Pitt 5-0. Almost, every Akron soccer team seems to suffer a gut punch during the season. In 2015, the zips went to Old Dominion and ODU used the long vertical pass to make Brad and Danilo and the zips backline look slow. The team met as a group after that mauling and came back the next weekend and won at Georgetown and Maryland. That team got stronger during the year and was one penalty kick off the crossbar away from beating the eventual NCAA champ in the college cup semis. Last year's gut punch came during a brutal loss at Northern Illinois. Bad luck plagued the team after that game with games cancelled with Notre Dame and Western Michigan. However, the team found a way to regroup and make a magical run to the NCAA final. The Pitt game was brutal. The zips dropped to 0-5. They were outshot 18-6. Pitt led in corner kicks 11-3. Many people want to blame Tor for all of the problems. Tor had some outstanding saves at Pitt to keep the game from ending up 4-0. The 0-5 record can not be blamed on one player. This team has so much offensive firepower and yet, they have scored 2 goals in 5 games. The Pitt game will hopefully be this team's gut punch and they will get off the mat..... They need to play Akron soccer....work as one unit....the captains need to lead and provide direction. They need to spread the field and move the ball with Akron precision. The talent is there. 7 of the guys started in the magical NCAA run. The newcomers have tremendous talent. However, it is always tough to transition to new teammates. David, Skye, Daniel, and Carlo....and other experienced players need to help Bradley, Will, Federico, Mani and Henrique when the new guys have a need to learn. The coaches were super excited before the season about this team's talent and tremendous depth. The future can be very bright for this team. It will take 110% from every player that steps on the field. Akron has had some great stories in its proud 65 year history. Will 2019 be remembered as a non-NCAA year or will it be remembered as the year that the team recovered from an 0-5 year to win the MAC and have a memorable run in the NCAA's. The talent is there. I believe that this team can and will get off the mat after the Pitt "gut punch".

Will Jackson featured in the 3rd installment

Tor did have one very bad decision....but he had some super outstanding saves. Pitt was very impressive.....Announcers said that Pitt was up 2-0 on Indiana....before losing 3-2 in double overtime without Strachan's kick save, the screamer off the top of the goal and Tor's excellent work, this could have been a 5-0 final Jared tried everything......Jaden Wright really was active and had great effort. He is very promising. Johnny Fitzgerald brought a great deal of energy at the end of the game

the numbers

Very lucky not to be down 2-0. good leg save by Tor and fantastic kick save by Daniel Strachan the corners and shots tell an accurate story Jaden Wright came in for Ergbo and Jaden was active.

Looks like Pacheco might have picked up an injury in the past 3 days Not in the starting lineup

Time for the zips to get in the win column Pitt is a deceptive 1-3-1 They started their season with a game against high powered Indiana Indiana won 3-2 in 2 OT's scoring 2 goals against defense minded Indiana is very impressive 2 days later, Pitt was flat and lost 1-0 to Northwestern Pitt then beat Liberty 3-0 3-3 tie with Delaware 2-0 loss to Mighty Wake Forest Pitt can put some goals on the board. Zips need to get the ball in the back of the net I am not sure if the ACC network is available in all parts of the country channel 612 on directv Akron at Pitt will be on ACC network 7 to 9 pm....reaired from midnight to 2 am

https://umterps.com/news/2019/9/13/mens-soccer-24-terps-take-out-akron-1-0.aspx From the Boss "That was a tremendous win for our team. It required a championship effort and I think tonight we got it. We did all the little things you have to do to win a game. I thought our defensive pressure was outstanding, but I also thought we were crisper in possession, particularly in the first half. I was very proud of the way our team played today. That Akron team might be the best 0-4 team in the history of college soccer. They'll be a contender as the year progresses." – Sasho Cirovski

Marco Milanese in the 2nd of the series

https://umterps.com/news/2019/9/11/mens-soccer-24-maryland-clashes-with-akron-friday-night.aspx

Alicea, Niko's sister was accepted into Boise State one week later, she was diagnosed with cancer. 11 days after the diagnosis, her family had to rush her to the hospital. less than 24 hours after being rushed to the hospital, Alicea had passed away. My heart absolutely breaks for the entire De Vera Family. If you are in a position where you can help (every $25 to $50 will help), please help this family of strong faith in their time of great sorrow. https://www.gofundme.com/f/2dz3m-alicea-de-vera

The Timbers are asking for help for Niko and his family. The Timbers have made a $1,000 donation to the go fund me page I will post a link to the go fund me page

Adam Najem played the entire game in Afghanistan's 1-0 win over Bangladesh https://unb.com.bd/category/Sports/fifa-afc-qualifiers-bangladesh-lose-to-afghanistan/27928

Instagram post from Niko

Heartbreaking, very sad news The 18 year old sister of Niko De Vera has passed away. I believe that she had been battling cancer. Sending my love, prayers and support to Niko and all of his family. May their tremendous faith and wonderful family memories lift them up and provide comfort during this unbearably difficult time. Zips Nation loves and cares for all of the De Vera family.

In a rematch of the 2018 College Cup finale, the Zips return to action with an 6:30 p.m. match at Maryland on Friday, Sept. 13, in College Park, Md. The contest will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

2-2-1 to start 2017 1-3-1 to start 2018 0-3 to start 2019 3-8-2 record in the first 5 games of the past 2 years and the first 3 games of this year and they play at Maryland next Friday

Final Creighton 2 Akron 1 I will try to say something positive. Federico Serra had some nice passes in the first half.

the tweet is showing Smith (#12) starting.... that of course should be Tom Smart Smart in place of Daniel Strachan Marco Milanese moves from left outside back to left center back go, zips

akron game picked as one of the 5 best this weekend Z.I.P. Maryland at UCLA is on pac-12 network...are you going to watch and give Jared a scouting report on the terps by the way, the article shows Maryland as 1-1. Maryland lost 2-0 on labor day to former ACC foe Virginia also in the article, Michigan State shows as 0-0-2.....one of their draws was against a MAC team....SIU-E and Michigan State played to 0-0 result in season opener https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/mens-weekend-preview:-friday-big-ten-feast_aid46723 No. 12 Akron (0-2) at Creighton (0-1-1), 8:30 p.m. (gocreighton.com) Two winless teams meet in Omaha in a marquee matchup of two teams searching for a first win of the season. The Zips were unable to find a result on the road against Xavier, and then couldn’t solve Andrew Thomas before conceding a late goal at home against the Cardinal on Monday. Finding an option beyond David Egbo is important for success both here and the rest of the season. Injuries have ravaged the Bluejays in their first season under head coach Jonny Torres. That being said, they gave a good account of themselves on a tough ACC road trip, drawing 2-2 against UNC before losing 1-0 to Wake Forest after having a good goal ruled out in the first half when it was 0-0. It’s going to be a tough one for Akron to find a win.

Bluejay extra twitter....trying to stir up some crap