Zip_ME87 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Tar Heels Add Transfer For 2011 Campaign Tar Heels Add Transfer For 2011 Campaign Speas was a member of the 2010 NCAA Champion Akron Zips June 20, 2011 CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Head men's soccer coach Carlos Somoano announced the addition of Akron transfer Ben Speas for the 2011 season. Speas appeared in 50 games as a freshman and sophomore in the midfield for the Zips and will have two years of eligibility. Speas appeared in 25 games, with four starts, a year ago as he helped lead Akron to the 2011 NCAA Championship. The Stow, Ohio, native tallied a pair of goals on the season to go along with three assists. Speas netted the game-winner against Western Michigan Oct. 23. As a freshman during the 2009 season, Speas earned a cap in all 25 games earning College Cup All-Tournament Team honors. He made a pair of starts in the NCAA College Cup, including one against the Tar Heels in the semifinal contest logging 95 minutes in the scoreless draw. Speas earned College Soccer News Freshman Top 100 honors after being named the 11th-ranked prospect by Top Drawer Soccer coming out of high school. He was a two-time NSCAA prep All-America and was a member of the U20, U18 and U17 squads. Carolina opens the 2011 season on August 19 with an exhibition contest at Coastal Carolina before officially opening the season August 27 against in-state foe UNC Wilmington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yazan07 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 I would still love to know what the full story is behind this transfer, it just does not make sense to me. I am also really curious as to what soccer fans down in Chapel Hill are saying about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Apparently it was over a perceived lack of playing time for the upcoming season. Are we going to be that good that we don't have room for a player of Spea's abilities this season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTank123 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Apparently it was over a perceived lack of playing time for the upcoming season. Are we going to be that good that we don't have room for a player of Spea's abilities this season? I don't think it's the case that we didn't have "room" for him, it may have just been a case of him not getting as much PT as he wanted. My guess is Speas expected to start this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZipGoTheZippers! Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Apparently it was over a perceived lack of playing time for the upcoming season. Are we going to be that good that we don't have room for a player of Spea's abilities this season? I don't think it's the case that we didn't have "room" for him, it may have just been a case of him not getting as much PT as he wanted. My guess is Speas expected to start this year. I have friend who works in athletics at UA and he told me that when Speas decided to transfer to UNC Poter wasn't a happy camper. I guess his response was pretty much "Go ahead. We don't need you." So I don't know if thats any indication that he was going to be important for this years season or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip_ME87 Posted June 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 I don't think it's the case that we didn't have "room" for him, it may have just been a case of him not getting as much PT as he wanted. My guess is Speas expected to start this year. If true, then I feel really badly for Ben. There can't possibly be any guarantee at UNC of being a starter... not at any school playing to their/our level. I like Ben and want to see him become a pro soccer player someday. Jumping from Akron to UNC is more likely to hinder his prospects than to help them. Best wishes to him; I hope it's not a move that he comes to regret. I was looking for Ben Speas and Chad Barson to make me a Crew fan (when they become pro players for the Crew). Oh well, Chad will be reason enough, but it would be better with multiple Akron alumni. GO ZIPS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTank123 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 I don't think it's the case that we didn't have "room" for him, it may have just been a case of him not getting as much PT as he wanted. My guess is Speas expected to start this year. If true, then I feel really badly for Ben. There can't possibly be any guarantee at UNC of being a starter... not at any school playing to their/our level. I like Ben and want to see him become a pro soccer player someday. Jumping from Akron to UNC is more likely to hinder his prospects than to help them. Best wishes to him; I hope it's not a move that he comes to regret. I was looking for Ben Speas and Chad Barson to make me a Crew fan (when they become pro players for the Crew). Oh well, Chad will be reason enough, but it would be better with multiple Akron alumni. GO ZIPS! Yeah. I certainly don't know the situation behind his leaving but losing a player of his caliber (at least from what I saw last year) has to be tough for any coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted June 21, 2011 Report Share Posted June 21, 2011 Apparently it was over a perceived lack of playing time for the upcoming season. Are we going to be that good that we don't have room for a player of Spea's abilities this season? Hey, if we're good enough that he probably would not have started, that would be good news....wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip_ME87 Posted June 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2011 Hey, if we're good enough that he probably would not have started, that would be good news....wouldn't it? Yes, but I doubt that it was determined that he wouldn't start. Just no guarantee that he would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted June 21, 2011 Report Share Posted June 21, 2011 Apparently it was over a perceived lack of playing time for the upcoming season. Are we going to be that good that we don't have room for a player of Spea's abilities this season? I don't think it's the case that we didn't have "room" for him, it may have just been a case of him not getting as much PT as he wanted. My guess is Speas expected to start this year. I have friend who works in athletics at UA and he told me that when Speas decided to transfer to UNC Poter wasn't a happy camper. I guess his response was pretty much "Go ahead. We don't need you." So I don't know if thats any indication that he was going to be important for this years season or not. It sounds like Speas had already decided to leave before he spoke with the coach. I would be mad if I were Porter, too, if that's the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ando Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 My mind is still blown by this whole thing. I get that Speas probably was a little too direct of a player for Porter's tastes, but we didn't have a non-Nagbe forward last year that was as strong at holding the ball up as Ben. Unless Chiu or Holmes are decidedly better at that than Ben is, then we're a much weaker team up top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fknbuflobo Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 My mind is still blown by this whole thing. I get that Speas probably was a little too direct of a player for Porter's tastes, but we didn't have a non-Nagbe forward last year that was as strong at holding the ball up as Ben. Unless Chiu or Holmes are decidedly better at that than Ben is, then we're a much weaker team up top. I agree. The other defections can be sustained, but I do not understand how the Zips are better without Speas. Yes, he has a more direct style than most Akron players, but that was a valuable change of pace, especially off the bench. Actually, had I been the coach, Ben would have started LAST year. I have yet to see Chiu play, but Holmes is more Ampai than Nagbe in my estimation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ando Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 The other guy I could have seen developing decently into the hold up role at striker is Jimmy Tulloch - although maybe his frame suggests something more of a target man. In either regard, he's gone too. I wouldn't be so worried about the lack of a guy who can receive the ball and wait for support, but employing Mattocks at one of the striker spots seems to necessitate having a guy who's strong with the ball at his feet in the other spot. Darren has good pace, some flair, good finishing, and the all important "nose for goal," but absent good support play, those things become virtually useless. I don't wanna seem all doom and gloom, and we should still roll past the Western Michigans of the world, but idk idk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTank123 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 The other guy I could have seen developing decently into the hold up role at striker is Jimmy Tulloch - although maybe his frame suggests something more of a target man. In either regard, he's gone too. I wouldn't be so worried about the lack of a guy who can receive the ball and wait for support, but employing Mattocks at one of the striker spots seems to necessitate having a guy who's strong with the ball at his feet in the other spot. Darren has good pace, some flair, good finishing, and the all important "nose for goal," but absent good support play, those things become virtually useless. I don't wanna seem all doom and gloom, and we should still roll past the Western Michigans of the world, but idk idk Keep the faith. Look at it this way...in my estimation, Speas would have stayed if he had started. I simply can't believe that a kid who thought he would have a chance to start would up and leave the defending national champions. There had to be something that pushed him over the edge. He had already spent two years in Akron (which is everyone's biggest knock against the school) so it's not like he wasn't used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip_ME87 Posted June 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 He had already spent two years in Akron (which is everyone's biggest knock against the school) so it's not like he wasn't used to it. Not sure what you mean by this. Speas is from Stow; so, he has spent a lot more than 2 years in the Akron area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxZIP Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 He had already spent two years in Akron (which is everyone's biggest knock against the school) so it's not like he wasn't used to it. Not sure what you mean by this. Speas is from Stow; so, he has spent a lot more than 2 years in the Akron area. He spent a whole bunch of time in the College Cup here as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTank123 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 He had already spent two years in Akron (which is everyone's biggest knock against the school) so it's not like he wasn't used to it. Not sure what you mean by this. Speas is from Stow; so, he has spent a lot more than 2 years in the Akron area. Comparing UNC to Akron. UNC has the prettier surrounding area, nicer weather, all that stuff. My point was that I don't think Speas was looking to transfer until something happened that made him transfer vs waking up one day and saying "I hate this place" and deciding to leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip_ME87 Posted August 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Nice start, albeit exhibition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted August 28, 2011 Report Share Posted August 28, 2011 Nice start, albeit exhibition UNC defeated UNC-Wilmington on Saturday. They play Louisville @home next Sunday 9/4. Winner could be #1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyake Posted August 28, 2011 Report Share Posted August 28, 2011 Nice start, albeit exhibition UNC defeated UNC-Wilmington on Saturday. They play Louisville @home next Sunday 9/4. Winner could be #1. the attendance for their game = 2,565 which is pathetic when you compare it to Akron and Louisville. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.