Cleveland State Game

[GoZipsGoZips]

Cleveland State is expected to be improved over last year and they were picked to finish second in the Horizon League behind Butler:

(Posted Today)

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soc...nt-ranking/men/

Butler picked up 5 first place votes... the Vikings had 3. The CSU Roster is mostly Ohio guys: http://www.csuvikings.com/sports/m-soccer/...soccer-mtt.html

Let's hope that the Zips take these guys seriously this year! This is a big game. We are likely to unveil the "2011 National Champions" banner at this game... and if we can manage to win... we set the NCAA record for consecutive wins at home at 40.

[bisbee]

Cleveland State is expected to be improved over last year and they were picked to finish second in the Horizon League behind Butler:

(Posted Today)

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soc...nt-ranking/men/

Butler picked up 5 first place votes... the Vikings had 3. The CSU Roster is mostly Ohio guys: http://www.csuvikings.com/sports/m-soccer/...soccer-mtt.html

Let's hope that the Zips take these guys seriously this year! This is a big game. We are likely to unveil the "2011 National Champions" banner at this game... and if we can manage to win... we set the NCAA record for consecutive wins at home at 40.

Went to TopDrawer and saw that the Mens' ranking were not going to be released until next week ?????

[GoZipsGoZips]

Cleveland State is expected to be improved over last year and they were picked to finish second in the Horizon League behind Butler:

(Posted Today)

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soc...nt-ranking/men/

Butler picked up 5 first place votes... the Vikings had 3. The CSU Roster is mostly Ohio guys: http://www.csuvikings.com/sports/m-soccer/...soccer-mtt.html

Let's hope that the Zips take these guys seriously this year! This is a big game. We are likely to unveil the "2011 National Champions" banner at this game... and if we can manage to win... we set the NCAA record for consecutive wins at home at 40.

Went to TopDrawer and saw that the Mens' ranking were not going to be released until next week ?????

Yep... sorry... put that in the wrong post...

[GoZipsGoZips]

Cleveland State is expected to be improved over last year and they were picked to finish second in the Horizon League behind Butler:

(Posted Today)

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soc...nt-ranking/men/

Butler picked up 5 first place votes... the Vikings had 3. The CSU Roster is mostly Ohio guys: http://www.csuvikings.com/sports/m-soccer/...soccer-mtt.html

Let's hope that the Zips take these guys seriously this year! This is a big game. We are likely to unveil the "2011 National Champions" banner at this game... and if we can manage to win... we set the NCAA record for consecutive wins at home at 40.

All-time series against Cleveland State:

Akron Leads series against Cleveland State 34-10-3

Games in the past decade:

2002 10/20 at Cleveland State W 5-3

2003 10/28 vs Cleveland State W 1-0

2004 10/11 at Cleveland St. W 2-1

2005 09/09 vs Cleveland State W 12-2

2008 09/21 vs Cleveland State W 2-1

2010 10/30 at Cleveland State L 1-2

http://www.socceramerica.com/article/40191...land-state.html

With the exception of ONE blowout... Cleveland State has played us close... so obviously they get pumped for the game.

We need to do the same.

[TheTank123]

Rhythm and spacing last night was scary good. THis team is the rea ldeal. One game into the season and they loook like they've been together for years. Unreal.

[jem101]

Rhythm and spacing last night was scary good. THis team is the rea ldeal. One game into the season and they loook like they've been together for years. Unreal.

:bow: :bow: Porter! :bow: :bow:

[Zipmeister]

Cleveland State is expected to be improved over last year and they were picked to finish second in the Horizon League behind Butler:

(Posted Today)

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soc...nt-ranking/men/

Butler picked up 5 first place votes... the Vikings had 3. The CSU Roster is mostly Ohio guys: http://www.csuvikings.com/sports/m-soccer/...soccer-mtt.html

Let's hope that the Zips take these guys seriously this year! This is a big game. We are likely to unveil the "2011 National Champions" banner at this game... and if we can manage to win... we set the NCAA record for consecutive wins at home at 40.

If we retired the numbers of all the great players we have had over the last 50 years there wouldn't be any numbers left.

AHA! Talk about a marketing idea. Let's give all our players letters of the alphabet instead of numbers.

[GoZipsGoZips]

Rhythm and spacing last night was scary good. THis team is the rea ldeal. One game into the season and they loook like they've been together for years. Unreal.

Yep.. very impressive... looked like a practice for most of the first half...

Pass the ball around and wear out the defense... draw them away from the goal.

Funny assessment from Porter too... named almost everyone but Balogun and Portillos... and Balogun had a great game... much improved as Porter said... must have been a hell of an off-season.

They should have tried some own goals to keep Meves awake.

[GoZipsGoZips]

If we retired the numbers of all the great players we have had over the last 50 years there wouldn't be any numbers left.

AHA! Talk about a marketing idea. Let's give all our players letters of the alphabet instead of numbers.

But... seldom are retired numbers actually retired... more of an honor... and many teams are "Honoring Numbers" now.

Look at the UNC Ladies Retired numbers... and then the current roster. They've had more great soccer players than most teams.

[Z.I.P.]

Rhythm and spacing last night was scary good. THis team is the rea ldeal. One game into the season and they loook like they've been together for years. Unreal.

Yep.. very impressive... looked like a practice for most of the first half...

Pass the ball around and wear out the defense... draw them away from the goal.

Funny assessment from Porter too... named almost everyone but Balogun and Portillos... and Balogun had a great game... much improved as Porter said... must have been a hell of an off-season.

They should have tried some own goals to keep Meves awake.

Here's an interesting tidbit: Game next Thursday will be a homecoming for Michael Balogun. He was a member of Cal-St Fullerton -- but doesn't seem to have ever played for them. So his last real experience was three yrs ago -- I don't think he played at all for Akron last year -- did he (red shirt)?

[Crew8]

Not to rub it into Cleveland AO Akron defeated AO Cleveland 7-2 yesterday in the 2nd Leg of the 1st Annual Rust Belt Cup (13-9 aggregate)

No attendance records set at this match, but the home unbeaten streak begins at 1

[UADavid]

Rhythm and spacing last night was scary good. THis team is the rea ldeal. One game into the season and they loook like they've been together for years. Unreal.

Yep.. very impressive... looked like a practice for most of the first half...

Pass the ball around and wear out the defense... draw them away from the goal.

Funny assessment from Porter too... named almost everyone but Balogun and Portillos... and Balogun had a great game... much improved as Porter said... must have been a hell of an off-season.

They should have tried some own goals to keep Meves awake.

Here's an interesting tidbit: Game next Thursday will be a homecoming for Michael Balogun. He was a member of Cal-St Fullerton -- but doesn't seem to have ever played for them. So his last real experience was three yrs ago -- I don't think he played at all for Akron last year -- did he (red shirt)?

He played last year. He was the main replacement when Kofi Sarkodie went down. He played in 18 games and started four.

[Z.I.P.]

Rhythm and spacing last night was scary good. THis team is the rea ldeal. One game into the season and they loook like they've been together for years. Unreal.

Yep.. very impressive... looked like a practice for most of the first half...

Pass the ball around and wear out the defense... draw them away from the goal.

Funny assessment from Porter too... named almost everyone but Balogun and Portillos... and Balogun had a great game... much improved as Porter said... must have been a hell of an off-season.

They should have tried some own goals to keep Meves awake.

Here's an interesting tidbit: Game next Thursday will be a homecoming for Michael Balogun. He was a member of Cal-St Fullerton -- but doesn't seem to have ever played for them. So his last real experience was three yrs ago -- I don't think he played at all for Akron last year -- did he (red shirt)?

He played last year. He was the main replacement when Kofi Sarkodie went down. He played in 18 games and started four.

Thanks David! The all-knowing Z.I.P. just proved his vulnerability trivia-wise. I don't remember him playing in the College Cup -- but I'm sure someone will show a box showing he did!

[Zip_ME87]

I don't remember him playing in the College Cup -- but I'm sure someone will show a box showing he did!

Balogun was one of only 2 subs in the semi-final against Michigan. The Zips had only one sub in the Championship Game (the other sub in the semi-final), and he's now at UNC.

[TheTank123]

I don't remember him playing in the College Cup -- but I'm sure someone will show a box showing he did!

Balogun was one of only 2 subs in the semi-final against Michigan. The Zips had only one sub in the Championship Game (the other sub in the semi-final), and he's now at UNC.

Balogun played very well. Really impressed with him in that holding spot.

Trapp's ball to Mattocks and the subsequent touch and finish were sublime.

Gallego/Barson were rocks, Mayer was great and I don't think I've ever seen DeAndre bomb down the sideline like that.

There wasn't a player on the field I wouldn't have given at least a 7 to. It blows me away that there was that level of understanding between kids who have known each other for 15 days.

[Zip_ME87]

Balogun played very well. Really impressed with him in that holding spot.

I agree. He's looking good.

[fknbuflobo]

Balogun played very well. Really impressed with him in that holding spot.

I agree. He's looking good.

Balogun has always been a ferocious tackler. Ouch! My ankles hurt just watching.

His passing has improved dramatically, looking much more comfortable.

After playing silently last year, he was very vocal last match, ala Kitchen.

Perhaps he is a late bloomer. He has always had the physical tools to excel at this level.

[Soccershins]

As pointed out in TDS' College Review this week, the Zips set an NCAA record by extending their unbeaten streak at home to 40 matches! Incredible!

[Zip_ME87]

As pointed out in TDS' College Review this week, the Zips set an NCAA record by extending their unbeaten streak at home to 40 matches! Incredible!

Love those words Defending National Champion Akron.

[GoZips88]

No. 20 Michigan lost to Bowling Green 2-0

HEY, BG, Michigan's OUR _itch! Go find your own!

[Z.I.P.]

Akron's Canadian newspaper wrote a story this week on our team and attendance!Thanks to Marla Ridenour for providing this week's AK-Rowdies chant! "We want steak! We want steak! No more burgers, we want steak!"

See you Yedlins, and other Zips fans in the Valley manana. Temps only in the low-mid 90s, down from as high as 107 last Friday. Caleb's Crew will get things heated up again.

[AkronZip54321]

Akron's Canadian newspaper wrote a story this week on our team and attendance!Thanks to Marla Ridenour for providing this week's AK-Rowdies chant! "We want steak! We want steak! No more burgers, we want steak!"

See you Yedlins, and other Zips fans in the Valley manana. Temps only in the low-mid 90s, down from as high as 107 last Friday. Caleb's Crew will get things heated up again.

I'll give my player ratings from the CSU Game:

Meves - 6 - little to do; had 1 nervous moment in the second half where the ball almost spilled under him.

Yeddelin - 8 - Great debut from the little right back. His pace really stood out and most of the attakcs in the first half came down his side.

Gallego - 8 - Really stood out as a leader and a top notch center back. I'll go as far to say that after game 1, this back 4 is actually better then last years. He is a tougher defender then Valentin and will be able to handle physical strikers better.

Barson - 8 - Strong and steady as always. Really is underrated in my opinion as he should be considered one of the top center backs in the country, and therefore an All-american.

Mayor - Really liked his game. As nice a player as Korb was, I think the englishman is better. He is good on the ball, serves a good cross and although was never tested, seems a solid enough defender. An upgrade it looks like.

Balogun - 6 - He did score a goal and didn't really cost them but I'm not sold on his technical ability. DM is very important in the Akron system as they are linking play quite a bit. One positive is he certainly brings something different to the table with a much more phyiscal presence then the other midfielders.

Trapp - 8 - Really like his game. The way he pulled the ball back and beat a defender and shot at the top of the box off a corner kick (i think) was class. He's right at the level of some of the midfielders they've had in recent years.

Caldwell - 9 - Really busy performance from the little midfielder, he just knows how to keep the ball and find the next player. His positioning was good too, finding the pockets of space to get the ball and pushing high enough to give Mattocks ample help.

Portillos - 5 - Just a quiet debut from the Washington transfer. They had him on the LW and the Zips weren't getting much joy from that side during the first half. Think he will be a useful player but will have to make way for Luke Holmes from the 7th game onword.

Quinn - 6 - Also pretty quiet although a little better then Portillos. His left foot is handy, and I like that he was on the right side to cut in; giving the outside backs more license to get forward. He will certainly have better days then Saturday, his ability is apparent for sure.

Mattocks - 9 - Wow, what an improvement from last year. Last year he was statistically one of the best strikers in the country, but from the looks of it, he truly is one of the best now. I'm predicting he'll be a herman finalist at the minimum if game 1 is anything to base off of. He is a much more intelligent and polished player and I'd be surprised if he doesn't match his goal total from last year, especially being the only true goal scorer in the lineup right now.

Barrett - 6 - A nice debut although a little jittery at times. Another player who will only improve as the season goes on.

Stevenson - 5 - Quiet, solid performance at LB. Still think he is best playing in the midfield, but was nice to see him getting a run out for 30 minutes.

Schmidt - 5- Also pretty quiet, but he did come in when the work was already done. Think playing wide in a 4-3-3 will suit him much better then as a striker in a 4-4-2.

[bobbyake]

Bowling Green plays Cleveland State on Saturday and a win could give them points in the rankings. Northern Illinois currently has points. It's still early but MAC soccer is doing well so far