TennZip

David Egbo also selected 3rd team by College Soccer news https://www.collegesoccernews.com/index.php/awards/all-america-teams/1270-college-soccer-news-2018-all-america-team

Blue and Gold had already told us about Jaden Wright https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/high-school-soccer-article/recruiting-roundup:-december-17-23_aid45640 In their Dec. 17-Dec.23 recruiting roundup, top drawer tells us about Jaden Wright and a young man named Natnael McDonald from Atlanta United Top Drawer has him rated as one of the top 150 recruits in the country (#120) BOYS NCAA DIVISION I Class of 2019 M Natnael McDonald (Atlanta United) committed to Akron. F Jaden Wright (Internationals SC) committed to Akron.

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2018-mens-division-i-postseason-awards_aid45636 Congratulations to Carlo... Well deserved 3rd team All American for Abdi and David 2nd team all freshman for colin Go, Zips !!!

Excellent column from the Beacon Journal https://www.ohio.com/opinion/20181215/michael-douglas-for-ua-soccer-learning-curve-to-perfect-goal

Darren Mattocks drafted by cincy https://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-transfers/2018/12/11/18136288/fc-cincinnati-darren-mattocks-dc-united-darren-mattocks

I hope that the zips will play some important soccer before the fall. Teams are allowed to take an international trip once every 4 years. Caleb took a team to Spain. Jared took a team to Brazil in summer 2015. if you remember, the zips in 2014...lost in the round of 64 in a PK Shootout... The 2015 team made it all the way to the college cup. The players on that team credit that trip for great improvement and that they really grew to believe in each other. I hope that there is a 2019 international trip. It is expensive.....but I am confident that the zips alumni and family...will want to help these young men get better. Personally, I am hoping that they go to Portugal......so that Diogo Pacheco and his teammates will get to play in front of his family

https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2018/12/9/18132541/how-atlanta-united-american-core-won-mls-cup-darlington-nagbe-greg-garza-brad-guzan-michael-parkhust Ahead of Larentowicz in 2018 was newcomer Darlington Nagbe. The midfielder has been something of an enigma for fans and coaches named Caleb Porter alike - he’s very skillful, but what’s his best role on the field? It turns out that the answer is not attacking winger - in Atlanta Tata Martino put Nagbe where he should have been all along, in central midfield. This was his best season in MLS and as a player who could keep possession either by passing out of danger, or at times dribbling through two or three defenders, Nagbe was critical for the success that the Five Stripes had in 2018. He missed significant time with an injury suffered in May, but his ability to set the tempo and move the ball upfield for the attackers was invaluable.

Excellent words from Coach Embick

https://www.ohio.com/sports/20181210/university-of-akron-mens-soccer-thyroid-cancer-no-stumbling-block-for-sophomore-diogo-pacheco This story deserves its own topic. Diogo Pacheco is a very brave young man.

Work prevented me from making it out to Santa Barbara this year...but I have heard from multiple people that George Van Horne,Matt Newhouse and the entire athletic department did first class work in setting up the events at SeaSide on Friday and Sunday....and also the MLS game watching event on Saturday night. I have seen on social media...how appreciative that Maverick and his mom are of the first class, wonderful treatment that they received from George and Matt and the entire athletic department. The athletic department had a tremendously short time to make arrangements for everything and they worked many long hours to make it happen. The soccer program is the best and the fans, players and alumni were treated super this weekend. No department or person is ever perfect....but the athletic department hit it out of the park with the watch events and their handling of all events in Santa Barbara. The athletic department and the soccer team and coaches all covered themselves in glory over the past few weeks.

I don't like the headline....but there are very good quotes from Skye and Coach Embick at the end of the article https://www.ohio.com/sports/20181209/university-of-akron-mens-soccer-zips-fall-short-in-title-game

I am very proud of this group of student athletes and their coaches accomplished. Good words below from Coach Embick “We’re hurting now, but we’re hurting because we put ourselves in this situation. A month and a half, two months ago, nobody expected it,” UA coach Jared Embick said. “I told the guys, ‘Sports, the champion gets defined by the trophy, but life’s not like that. Your ability to handle setbacks and push forward and pick yourselves up every time you fall down is more what life’s about.’ Unfortunately, we don’t get the moment we wanted, but this team showed a lot of people about perseverance and how you handle adversity. I was really proud of the coaches and players.”

https://areyouwatchingthis.com/tv/stations/espn3 I am sure that there are many people around the country watching the game on ESPNU I would hope that ESPNU would cover the trophy presentation. However, they have fla. state vs. Uconn basketball scheduled at 9. as a heads up (if ESPNU cuts away to basketball)....ESPN3 will also broadcast the game and ESPN3 will cover the trophy presentation. Proud of this zips team....no matter what happens tonight....They have had an amazing year to be proud of Sunday, Dec 9 8:00p - Curling - 2018 Home Hardware Canada Cup (Men's Final) 8:00p - Men's College Soccer - Akron vs. Maryland (Final) 10:00p - Men's College Soccer - NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament - Trophy Presentation

This will be one heck of a battle....Zips are playing so well... but so are the Terrapins...no goals allowed....in 4 tourney games Futbol.......can indeed be cruel..but I have a feeling that Marcel Zajac magic and skill will be the difference tonight ....Go, zips !!!!

Morgan Hackworth and a Maryland player featured in this article https://www.brotherlygame.com/2018/12/9/18131756/philadelphia-union-academy-college-cup-morgan-hackworth-sebastian-elney

I am glad that to see that Stu Parry is mentioned in this article. Stu Parry is a gigantic reason that soccer has been so important for this university. Thank you, Stu Parry. When the history of Akron soccer is written (Soon, please.....hint, hint....to our most knowledgeable frequent poster !!!), Stu Parry will merit many chapters.

https://www.ohio.com/sports/20181209/college-cup-notebook-seventh-graders-letters-provide-pregame-inspiration-for-zips

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/09/darlington-nagbe-wanted-provide-atlanta-united-fans-heartbreak-fix nice video....with Darlington being his super nice self...and his young kids being cute

Plain Dealer Sunday morning article https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2018/12/akron-mens-soccer-in-full-stride-for-college-cup-final.html#incart_river_index

Marla keeps putting out very good articles https://www.ohio.com/sports/20181208/college-cup-zips-bridge-gap-reach-ncaa-final-with-mix-of-old-and-young