National Championship

[skip-zip]

A few things about the game part:1) Yes, I thought UVA was very bigger and physical compared to most teams we played this year. I thought a couple of their guys were very close to getting booted.2) Were those the best refs in the country?? At least two of our yellow card fouls were TOTAL flops by UVA players that weren't even hit. Come on.The penalty kicks:1) That's amazing to see a 3-2 score on 5 penalty kicks. 2) What's hard to take is that we missed the goal completely on 2 of our 3 misses.

[Blue & Gold]

What time is the team supposed to get back in town tonight? Where will the bus pull up? In front of the JAR?

[bigzipguy]

Having Ampi re-injured really hurt.

[GP1]

Seems ridiculous to me to decide a national title TEAM game with a one on one contest in the end.I watched soccer for hours this weekend and never saw a goal. I think I just exhausted my soccer energy for my life.

I agree. In championship games, they should play until someone scores. There just seems to be something wrong with a PK ending.Soccer will never be widely accepted in the United States. It just isn't an exciting sport to watch. Baseball has a more exciting pace. Great season Zips! The future looks good!

[UA Fan]

We did not concede a goal the entire tournament. Yes we didn't score this weekend but we outplayed both ACC teams we faced. I'd love to see us switch conferences. I wonder what it would take?

New hoops arena and a winning football program, for starters...

[The Hip Zip]

They said 10:30 tonight, right between the field house and the stadium. I am so proud of these guys and wouldn't miss it. I hope that others feel the same way and give up an hour tonight for our boys.

[UA Fan]

Seems ridiculous to me to decide a national title TEAM game with a one on one contest in the end.I watched soccer for hours this weekend and never saw a goal. I think I just exhausted my soccer energy for my life.

I agree. In championship games, they should play until someone scores. There just seems to be something wrong with a PK ending.Soccer will never be widely accepted in the United States. It just isn't an exciting sport to watch. Baseball has a more exciting pace. Great season Zips! The future looks good!

They should also keep removing a man from each team for each OT played to open things up. With 2 even teams like that, you can't organize anything at the top of the box without drawing a crowd. I appreciate the skill and endurance of the players but it was some brutal spectating. What few shots there were were either off target or easily blocked. Still would have been nice to bring a home though. I think American football's place is safe for a long, long time regardless of immigration.

[RowdyZip]

They said 10:30 tonight, right between the field house and the stadium. I am so proud of these guys and wouldn't miss it. I hope that others feel the same way and give up an hour tonight for our boys.

+1What a thrill. I hope we can get a decent crowd up there.

[zips4ever2008]

I've been down here in North Carolina for the Final Four. It's been a great experience, even though the weather sucked and I wish the end result was different. I am very proud of the guys even though this one hurts. I hate penalty kicks. To me, that is no way to decide a soccer game, especially one this big. I say, let the teams play until someone scores. Don't decide the game on one on one. I hate how it ended, but our guys had chances and the ball didn't go where it needed to go-into the net. Like I said, I'm very proud of these guys. They fought all the way when likely no one, besides Akron supporters, thought they make it. Remember during the selection show when we weren't even mentioned to get this far. I hope we showed people what Akron soccer is about and gained some respect. Keep your head up guys. Now you know what it takes to get here. Come back next year with a bitter taste in your mouth and be determined to go for it again. GO ZIPS!

[Valpo Zip]

I wish i could make it down to the JAR tonight to greet the team. Those of you who can make it, please go ahead and do so. Also, please make sure you show lots of love to coach Porter. He needs to understand that the Hoosiers fans will not love him more than we do and that he should remain a ZIP for good.

[MDZip]

Awesome expereince. Weather was bad, result was not what we wanted but they proved they really are the best team in the country. Over a series I don't think anyone would have beaten them, but you only get one shot in the tournament format. Regardless I couldn't be prouder of them, I still have my Akron sweatshirt on as I sit here at the airport, they conducted themselves with class all of the way (I will proudly display my team signed poster from Friday in my home). And for those folks who wondered if our freshman goalie could hold up under the tournament pressure, how was his saving the final two shots or we were done do for you? I look forward to seeing him in goal for the next three years. We will have an amazing team next year and in my mind they are indeed champions. Its a game and it was fun. NCAA runnerup is still damn impressive.

[Spin]

With most of these men returning, and a whole tournament under their belt, next year will be a different story.Seemed like they were a little edgy, a lot of shots took off on them. Not next year.Wish I could join the party, gotta work. Great season.

[bUAkronG]

The issue with playing until someone scores is a difficult one but I think PKs is the way to go. You have to understand the kind of shape these guys have to be in just to play for 110 minutes. If you think losing the game on PKs is bad imagine Virginia playing a long ball in and one of our defenders cramping up while trying to run after it and the UVa player chips it over Meves' head for the win after 200 minutes?I know most don't like to see us play 110 scoreless minutes and still get the loss but I know we wouldn't be feeling that way if we were on the other side of the "win".That being said, if the team is in fact going to be there at 10:30 I will try and head over with my camera. I am back at UA for the week.

[WinZip]

One of the toughest sporting events I have had to swallow... it will sting for awhile. This team was is something special! I honestly don't like ending the game with PKs...it just takes some of the passion from the game. It seemed like only a matter of time before we broke the opposing defense, which was excellent by the way, for a goal. I won't complain too much, however. We didn't finish some chances that we needed to. We might not have won the National Championship, but in my mind that is the greatest NCAA soccer team in the nation. I'm ready for soccer season 2010...I wish it started tomorrow. The guys will be ready to steamroll through the competition. Lots of pride for Caleb and the soccer zips!

[RootforRoo44]

A few things about the game part:1) Yes, I thought UVA was very bigger and physical compared to most teams we played this year. I thought a couple of their guys were very close to getting booted.2) Were those the best refs in the country?? At least two of our yellow card fouls were TOTAL flops by UVA players that weren't even hit. Come on.The penalty kicks:1) That's amazing to see a 3-2 score on 5 penalty kicks. 2) What's hard to take is that we missed the goal completely on 2 of our 3 misses.

Perhaps the most questionable calls i've EVER seen in my entire life. Literally no contact at all on them and we get carded?! Are you f'ing serious? That whole thing was a sham, we never had a chance playing 14 on 11.

[RootforRoo44]

The issue with playing until someone scores is a difficult one but I think PKs is the way to go.

You may be the only person in the world who thinks that.Penalty Kicks for a national title is just plain stupid...add on the whole mess on what's considered a tie and what's not bullcrap and it's no wonder this is the same NCAA that is responsible for the joke that is the BCS.

[Spin]

Not a perfect solution, but what about the NHL system of taking one player off the field (in this case I would make it a starting defender) before each OT period? Even let the other coach decide who to sit. Open the game up a bit, settle it on the field.

[UA Fan]

Not a perfect solution, but what about the NHL system of taking one player off the field (in this case I would make it a starting defender) before each OT period? Even let the other coach decide who to sit. Open the game up a bit, settle it on the field.

I disagree...I think that is the perfect solution.

[bUAkronG]

The issue with playing until someone scores is a difficult one but I think PKs is the way to go.

You may be the only person in the world who thinks that.Penalty Kicks for a national title is just plain stupid...add on the whole mess on what's considered a tie and what's not bullcrap and it's no wonder this is the same NCAA that is responsible for the joke that is the BCS.

I doubt I'm the only one. You have to understand that these guys run for 5-6 miles per 90 minutes. So even in extra time their bodies are being pushed. I understand they are in top shape but weather and general fatigue all play a part. People cramp up after 60 minutes sometimes. You can't just expect these guys to play for 150 or sometimes two minutes. Like I said earlier you might think PKs suck but after 150 minutes of hard back and forth play imagine how you would feel about a sloppy, cheap goal.

[zippyrifle32]

The issue with playing until someone scores is a difficult one but I think PKs is the way to go.

You may be the only person in the world who thinks that.Penalty Kicks for a national title is just plain stupid...add on the whole mess on what's considered a tie and what's not bullcrap and it's no wonder this is the same NCAA that is responsible for the joke that is the BCS.

we beat UNC on PK's and people on here think it should count as a win, now people don't think it should be used to determine who goes on. Sorry, but you have to pick a side. PK's are part of the game and while the outcome SUCKS it's how the cookie crumbles. I believe they do the same sort of thing in hockey too. Personally, I don't think a game should end in a tie and that every tie should go to PK's.

[zippy5]

Not a perfect solution, but what about the NHL system of taking one player off the field (in this case I would make it a starting defender) before each OT period? Even let the other coach decide who to sit. Open the game up a bit, settle it on the field.

That's regular season. Wanna know how the NHL decides a playoff game? 5 on 5 overtime, 20 minutes. repeat if necessary. shootouts are a gimmick to give the fans the satisfaction of not seeing a tie in the regular season. The NCAA should take note...don't decide the nat'l championship on a gimmick.

[RootforRoo44]

The issue with playing until someone scores is a difficult one but I think PKs is the way to go.

You may be the only person in the world who thinks that.Penalty Kicks for a national title is just plain stupid...add on the whole mess on what's considered a tie and what's not bullcrap and it's no wonder this is the same NCAA that is responsible for the joke that is the BCS.

I doubt I'm the only one. You have to understand that these guys run for 5-6 miles per 90 minutes. So even in extra time their bodies are being pushed. I understand they are in top shape but weather and general fatigue all play a part. People cramp up after 60 minutes sometimes. You can't just expect these guys to play for 150 or sometimes two minutes. Like I said earlier you might think PKs suck but after 150 minutes of hard back and forth play imagine how you would feel about a sloppy, cheap goal.

Players wouldn't be THAT tired, it's called playing your heart out til the end. Besides there are plenty of players on each bench, and it would be far from sloppy. Someone mentioned removing a player from the field each overtime, that is the perfect solution as well. These guys are college athletes, i can easily expect them to play another 40-50 minutes like that, the better team would still win, period. Also, you are right. There are probably 2 of you that think that.

[RootforRoo44]

Not a perfect solution, but what about the NHL system of taking one player off the field (in this case I would make it a starting defender) before each OT period? Even let the other coach decide who to sit. Open the game up a bit, settle it on the field.

That's regular season. Wanna know how the NHL decides a playoff game? 5 on 5 overtime, 20 minutes. repeat if necessary. shootouts are a gimmick to give the fans the satisfaction of not seeing a tie in the regular season. The NCAA should take note...don't decide the nat'l championship on a gimmick.

EXACTLY...the same thing could be used in the NCAA. I'm totally fine with PK's in the regular season as tieing is unAmerican and anti-sport. Seeing 3 numbers on someones record is just plain wrong. But when it comes to the playoffs, the best team should be afforded the chance to win, not be shafted by a stupid rule.

[BirdZip]

I think that if Akron had won on the PK's many would not have voiced an opposition to the that at first, but once you sat down and thought about it, you would at least admit it's not a great system. As to the argument of people being tired, I think people might just get tired in other sports too. I seem to recall a 6OT game in basketball last season (Syracuse and UConn). I'll bet they were pretty tired, but they finished it. I guess maybe a better way would have been after the 2nd OT, just shoot 10 free throws each and go home.That being said, I'm not a soccer fan and don't understand the rules, but I was glued to the TV through both games of the Final 4, and was sick to my stomach the whole time from the stress of being a fan. Soccer is boring for me in general, but when it's your school playing, especially at that level, it can be pretty darn enthralling (and nerve wracking).Congratulations to the Akron Men's soccer team on a great season.And also congratulations to the fans in attendance--very loud on ESPN!

[bUAkronG]

The issue with playing until someone scores is a difficult one but I think PKs is the way to go.

You may be the only person in the world who thinks that.Penalty Kicks for a national title is just plain stupid...add on the whole mess on what's considered a tie and what's not bullcrap and it's no wonder this is the same NCAA that is responsible for the joke that is the BCS.

I doubt I'm the only one. You have to understand that these guys run for 5-6 miles per 90 minutes. So even in extra time their bodies are being pushed. I understand they are in top shape but weather and general fatigue all play a part. People cramp up after 60 minutes sometimes. You can't just expect these guys to play for 150 or sometimes two minutes. Like I said earlier you might think PKs suck but after 150 minutes of hard back and forth play imagine how you would feel about a sloppy, cheap goal.

Players wouldn't be THAT tired, it's called playing your heart out til the end. Besides there are plenty of players on each bench, and it would be far from sloppy. Someone mentioned removing a player from the field each overtime, that is the perfect solution as well. These guys are college athletes, i can easily expect them to play another 40-50 minutes like that, the better team would still win, period. Also, you are right. There are probably 2 of you that think that.

You act like it's just a player's will that allows them to play forever. It's called physical limitations. How much do your baseball players run in an average game? Soccer is a different game than any other sport. Having depth isn't really that important except for injuries. Yes sure at the level of National Championship play both teams do have incredible depth but it is asinine to ask a player to come off the bench cold and play at the same level of play as everyone else.You guys all bitch about soccer being boring, yet PKs are about pitting your best players against their best players and seeing if they can score. These are direct shots on goal. That's action. Quit your bitching. If we had won 3-2 90% of you wouldn't be saying shit about the system. These rules have been in place forever. Deal with them.