Soccer #2 in the NATION

[zipper]

This is big news:

http://gozips.collegesports.com/sports/m-s.../100305aac.html

[InTheZone]

Congrats to the team, I know they work hard. This doesn't mean that much to me personally as a fan, considering it is SOCCER (do they even show the NCAA's on tv??), but I'm happy for any UA team that does well. If we could only have that kind of success in football, basketball, or baseball!!!

[zipalong]

Yes, the College Cup (which is the NCAA championships) is broadcast LIVE on ESPN, both men and women. The semi-finals are also broadcast. Get with the program, this has been true for years and years.

The two best programs on campus for years and years has been men's soccer and riflery.

Every other country in the world knows all about soccer, or as they call it football. They think we Americans (and I agree) are arrogant when we refer to our sports as the World Series, Super Bowl, etc., when they are only among United States teams. The World Cup in soccer is WORLD WIDE, including teams from South America, Europe, Asia, etc.

We need to get our heads a little straight.

I am a season ticket holder to Zip football, basketball, and attend soccer games. I am a true Blue and Gold fan and I am ALWAYS for the team who plays against Ohio State. I'm not for Can't State, (Can't does hold for me as we seem to lose to them in a number of sports) unless they are representing the MAC, then I'll cheer for them.

I've expressed my doubts in the past about some of the posters on this site, and mostly

just laugh at the remarks and leave it go at that. Have your fun guys so many of you appear to be a**es.

[Zipsrifle]

Any Akron team that is contending for a National Championship gets serious respect from me. Not many people noticed the Engineering SAE teams when the were winning. But when UA tops 110 other engineering programs, that's a big deal. Though I'm not a soccer fan, if I lived near Akron, their success would have me attending games. IMO, Soccer will continue to grow and though some here might not like it, eclipse Baseball as the #3 sport. If this is the case, then Akron has been in on the ground floor for a while and will only reap the benefits for years to come.

[InTheZone]

Yes, the College Cup (which is the NCAA championships) is broadcast LIVE on ESPN, both men and women. The semi-finals are also broadcast. Get with the program, this has been true for years and years.

I've expressed my doubts in the past about some of the posters on this site, and mostly

just laugh at the remarks and leave it go at that. Have your fun guys so many of you appear to be a**es.

Okay, first off all don't tell me to get with the program on something I would venture to guess 97-99 % of the country don't know or care about. Why don't you check the ratings on last year's "College Cup" or whatever the hell it's called. That should speak volumes to you.

Secondly, why are you calling people asses for being exactly like just about every other American and not paying attention to soccer?? This is America, we love football, get over it. Soccer will always be a B or C level sport.

I'm not saying this to bash our soccer players, because like I said before I know they've worked hard and I'm proud of them. Any success by any school team is good for the school. The only point I was making is that myself (and I'm sure the Zips athletic department) would much rather have that kind of success in a major sport (football or men's basketball, and even college baseball is more visible). If this athletic program is ever going to take off we've got to achieve national rankings in one of those sports (preferably football, though a berth in March Madness would be awesome).

[Zipsrifle]

Can't seem to get the success of the soccer team out of my head. Here are some of the things bouncing around in my brain pan, so feel free to help out someone who isn't very knowledgeable in soccer.

1) What does 2000 people look like at Lee Jackson? The upgrade to the stands was for 1000, but it seems like that is too small now. Anybody got pictures.

2) What is the capacity at Lee Jackson?

3) Is Lee Jackson considered a "Big" college soccer stadium?

4) Does anyone think they'll make provisions for Soccer to use the new stadium if it gets built?

5) Lolla has built a nationally recognized and respected program. Does he get any bonuses like the football coach does if he achieves specific goals?

6) Didn't Lolla just sign a new contract? How long is that contract?

7) When is the recruiting season? What is Akron's recruiting region? Have we been making big scores lately with recruits?

8) Do we have an experienced team or a young team? Bush is a RF goalie, but what about everyone else?

I think that UA really has something great going on here and needs to capitalize on it. Sure, they are throwing money everywhere right now, but I wouldn't mind if more went to this program because of it's history of success. I'm just flat out amazed they pulled in 2000+ fans against OSU and think it would be a great idea to do whatever is necessary to keep UA at the top.

[Z-Pouch]

Beacon Journal Soccer Article

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Zips have plenty of goals in hand, none in by Bush

No. 2-ranked Akron's freshman goalie has six shutouts, 0.41 goals-against average

By David Lee Morgan Jr.

Beacon Journal sports writer

The University of Akron men's soccer team is proving to a growing national audience that it can do more than score goals.

The Zips (10-0 overall, 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference) lead the country in scoring at 3.89 goals per game.

But week by week, Akron is showing much more.

There are plenty of other reasons why the Zips, whose next game is Friday night at 20th-ranked Buffalo, are ranked No. 2 in each of the four major college polls (College Soccer News, Soccer Times, Soccer America and NSCAA/adidas). Defense is a big one.

So far, Akron has seven shutouts and is tied for first in the country with a shutout percentage of 0.78. The Zips also are third in the country in the category of goals-against average (0.33).

The University of New Mexico is the No. 1 team in the country in all four major soccer polls. Akron and New Mexico are the only two teams in Division I that are undefeated and untied.

``Whenever you're not giving up goals, you're giving yourself a chance to win the game,'' said Zips coach Ken Lolla. ``Our goal at the start of the year was to be sound defensively, first. We do put a lot of emphasis on defending well and defending as a team.''

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Evan Bush has done an effective job of keeping opponents' shots out of the net. In a 3-0 win against Ohio State last Friday at Akron's Lee Jackson Field, Bush registered a career-high six saves for his sixth shutout. He has a 0.41 goals-against average.

Although this is Bush's first year as the starter, Lolla hasn't been surprised by his play.

``I've always anticipated him being a big-time college keeper,'' Lolla said about Bush, who has six shutouts. ``He has done tremendously well.''

But so has the entire defensive unit.

Akron has had its share of injuries, yet the Zips haven't let the lineup changes affect team chemistry.

``Our two center backs (Ossie Michalsen and Corey Sipos) have been injured and at one point, we had them both out at the same time and we survived that,'' Lolla said. ``Even up the field, we had Dino (Campellone) miss the Penn State game but guys like (forwards) Sinisia (Ubiparipovic), Ross (McKenzie) and Yohan (Mauger) have been solid. And in the backline, we can take anyone and put them there defensively because they all have been so steady.''

With eight regular-season games to play before the conference tournament, the goal for the Zips is to finish strong.

There is a lot at stake. Akron has qualified for the NCAA Tournament five times under Lolla, who is in his 13th season. The Zips want to make it six.

``The biggest focus we have is getting into the NCAA Tournament and in order to win it all, you have to start out with the highest seed possible,'' Lolla said. ``We're still working on making that happen and there's a lot of soccer left to secure that.''

[Z-Pouch]

Another article for the BJ on the Remaining soccer schedule with comments on teams. Seems like a pretty tough schedule. Nice to see they are playing good teams.

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REMAINING SCHEDULE

Oct. 7 at Buffalo

The Bulls (10-1-0) are 20th in the NSCAA/adidas national poll, their highest ranking since becoming Division I in 1991.

Oct. 12 at St. John's

The Red Storm (5-1-3) are ranked third in the nation by Soccer America.

Oct. 16 vs. Bowling Green

The Falcons (3-8-1) ended a 25-match winless streak with a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Ohio State on Sept. 23.

Oct. 21 vs. Northern Illinois

The Huskies (7-2-1) have won four in a row -- all by a score of 1-0.

Oct. 23 at Western Michigan

The Broncos (3-5-1) are 2-0 in their only home games so far this season.

Oct. 28 vs. Michigan

The Wolverines (5-3-1) beat Akron 2-1 last November in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Oct. 30 vs. Kentucky

The Wildcats (3-3-4) are winless in their last five matches.

Nov. 3 at Indiana

The Hoosiers (5-1-3) are two-time defending national champions. They are 22-4 in the all-time series against Akron but lost to the Zips 1-0 in 2003 in the teams' last meeting.

Nov. 8 MAC Tournament Quarterfinals TBA