Meet the expectations for UA Soccer -op ed by Michael Douglas

[TennZip]

http://www.ohio.com/editorial/meet-the-expectations-for-ua-soccer-1.642398

since I live in TN, I normally only look at the Beacon sport pages on line so I missed this op ed column.

A friend e-mailed this to me a few days after it was published.

This was published on the Sunday that the zips played Rutgers.

I wanted to wait until the season was over to post. I really liked the nuances that the writer picked up...with positive comments about players like Andrew Souders and Victor Souto for not ever being out of position...and for regaining possession and playing defense.

The players and the coaches should be very proud of their outstanding achievements this year.

[SBZipfan]

Yes, absolutely. Getting to the College Cup puts the stamp of approval on Embick: he's no longer just the guy who took over after Caleb Porter, he's the guy who took his team to the Final Four. This raises the stature of Akron in the eyes of every potential recruit.

[Zip_ME87]

Thanks @TennZip. I never saw that article and it was what I really needed as I sit here in my hotel room near the Kansas City Int'l Airport awaiting my return home tomorrow. As I previously told fknbuflobo, I'm really going to miss Andrew Souders. I hope an MLS team gives him an opportunity. Who knows, he is the last Akron recruit to play for Caleb. Perhaps the Timbers will give him a look. Although, now that I think about it as I type, I think he was in the Crew Academy. I stil don't understand the MLS Homegrown rules as to when and how much time a player had to be in a team's academy for them to have homegrown rights. Andrew in Columbus would be excellent.

I commend Richie for a great season and for maturing in the post season. He had a run of 6 games in the regular season without a yellow card, and he told me he could do it in the post season. And, of course he did. I hope he'll stick around for his senior season and learn and mature that much more while helping the Zips get to another College Cup.

I can't say enough about how Victor Souto matured after the 2015 Spring match at Louisville. The 3 yellow cards he had in the regular season were all for what I'll call "good" aggressive play. The trip to Brazil, I think, really helped him to step up as team leader.

I also hope Adam returns to Akron for his senior season and to get his degree. Ilook forward to his skills and team leadership for another season.

I'm looking forward to the new recruiting class and where this team could be in 2016 if our key underclassmen stick around.