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2nd exhibition game - Pitt


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Friday vs. Pitt will be good measuring for Zips.   Akron can ill afford to gift opportunities on our goal as we did versus Michigan. Unlike Wolverines, Panthers will convert such gifts into scores.

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AKR 0-0 PIT   FT

 

Another lackluster scoreless draw. 

 

On a positive note, though far from flawless, Zips defending looked more cohesive and determined.

 

Especial recognition to MF Matt Dreas who has developed into our #6.

More than one Zips historian has compared Matt Dreas to Ben Zemanski at Defensive Mid-field.

Encouraging to see players improve; that is why we watch collegiate sports, right?

I would counsel that Dreas needs work on distributing the ball after winning possession.

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5 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

For those at the first two scrimmages, what are we missing on the offensive end?

We have lost the ability to receive the ball in midfield with our backs to the opponents’ goal, and then turn it upfield.  Other teams are very physical when keeping us from playing through the midfield.  That first pass from our defensive third into the middle third is hotly contested.  Teams now realize that preventing that pass is the key to beating us.  So, we must resort to playing over midfield rather than playing through midfield.  And we are not especially good at that, the long ball.

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7 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

For those at the first two scrimmages, what are we missing on the offensive end?

I did not see either of the exhibitions.

 

I asked a high school friend for his impressions of the first 2 games

 

   I will paraphrase his comments.

They looked much worse in the 2nd game than they did in the first game.    2nd game comments - They spent a lot of time passing the ball around on their half of the field.   They appeared to be afraid to pass the ball into the midfield as the pass was likely to be intercepted.   Most times, the zips looked to pass backwards....rather than looking forward. When the zips were able to cross the midfield, the ball did not stay very long on the zips side of the field.

 

Same problems that we saw late in 2023...when they tied Marquette and other less talented teams.

 

Final comment from my friend...game was very boring.  Fans were not engaged.  Fans were talking to their neighbors and checking stuff on their phones.

 

my comments -

 

I will pay $10.99 for a month to watch Thursday's night game on ACC TV.   And I will pay the obnoxious $30 per month to  pay for the very over priced FLO TV so I can watch the home games against Ohio State and Cleveland State on August 25 and September 2nd.  I will pay whatever is necessary to watch the game in Kalamazoo.

 

I hope to make it up to Akron in early to mid September

 

I consider myself a devoted fan...and I was thrilled to see the addition of a super highly rated left back in James Buebendorf.   I was absolutely thrilled to see that the coaching staff had great success in attracting excellent transfers like Maximus Barboto, Victor Gaulmin and Emil J.

 

Super fast, elusive top talent....Malik Henry and Dyson Clapier...came back for a 5th year because they believe in this coaching staff and their returning team mates.

 

Caleb Borneo was a top 50 rated junior and he is healthy to play this year in the midfield

 

Fans that saw the zips play in the spring say that Beto Ydrach is a fantastic center back and these same fans give credit to the coaching staff for finding a great talent in Beto.

 

   My comments below are 2nd hand...for the first 2 exhibitions....but they appear to mirror the problems that we all saw in the disappointing end to last year.

 

I have never played and I am certainly not qualified to be a coach....but as a passionate fan, I think that the Coaches are going to have to make some major adjustments to utilize our super talented new mid fielders....Borneo, Barboto, Gaulmin and Josh Bartels.

 

Teams have figured out how to contest the zips step by step passing style.....and clog up the midfield

 

Last year(similar to 2021 and 2022), our starting left back....struggled greatly to get the ball to our supremely skilled left winger (Dyson Clapier)

This year, I am very hopeful that either Ashton Kamdem or James Buebendorf can lock down the starting left back position and use their speed and passing skills to get the ball up to the final 3rd of the field to Stefan, Emil, Dyson, Malik, Josh B. and other skilled scorers.

 

Unfortunately, Ashton got a red card in the big east tourney game and will not be able to play against Notre Dame.   I sure hope that James Buebendorf gets a lot of playing time at LB against Notre Dame and that the highly rated freshman can have a stellar zips debut.

 

This team has many talented players in the midfield....and some terrific players as forwards and wingers.....Jared and the 2018 coaching staff....showed in the great 2018 tournament run...that they could get the ball to Marcel Zajac and Stuart Holthusen in good scoring position.    All of the transfers and talented new freshman (Bartels, Borneo, Buebendorf) believe in their teammates and the coaching staff..      Soccer is not easy.....Lots of new players ...Rome was not built in a day...but this team can make a deep NCAA tournament run.

 

 

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