In the portal

[Zip_ME87]

Maximus Barboto is in the portal. 🥲

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJIFEhAThL_/?igsh=aTFpNGk1MTQ1dDJ1

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJM8o8oS-KT/?igsh=Z2I0ZjlrZnJhNGJ2

Edited May 3 by Zip_ME87

[TennZip]

Kamden Held, who was on the zips fall and spring roster......has transferred to Wisconsin Green Bay

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ48YGbTrPG/?hl=en

[NYC ZIP]

William Arnesen who spent the spring with the Zips after transferring from Old Dominion, has transferred to Ohio State. 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKkKo_0Mjby/?igsh=MTVjOTZ5cG05MXp4cA==

Edited June 6 by NYC ZIP

[72 Roo]

I can't help but think there may be some NIL money in play here. Does anyone know the behind the scenes story?

 

[NYC ZIP]

Not necessarily NIL, but scholarship money available. All schools are now allowed, but not required, to have all men’s players on the roster receive full scholarships up to 28. Prior to this change, mens soccer teams were limited to the equivalent of 9.5 to divide across the players. I’m sure the Zips gained very little, if any $$ to allocate to men’s soccer. On the other hand, I’m confident schools like OSU did and can leverage a “full ride” deal for transfer players from schools that aren’t opted in. Even an increase to 15 scholarships could be a massive difference to the construction of a roster.

[fknbuflobo]

On 6/7/2025 at 8:45 AM, NYC ZIP said:

Not necessarily NIL, but scholarship money available. All schools are now allowed, but not required, to have all men’s players on the roster receive full scholarships up to 28. Prior to this change, mens soccer teams were limited to the equivalent of 9.5 to divide across the players. I’m sure the Zips gained very little, if any $$ to allocate to men’s soccer. On the other hand, I’m confident schools like OSU did and can leverage a “full ride” deal for transfer players from schools that aren’t opted in. Even an increase to 15 scholarships could be a massive difference to the construction of a roster.

I think your scenario is accurate.  And if it is, Zips simply cannot afford competing at the elite level.  Not at the moment anyway.  

 

28 scholarships versus 9.5 scholarships is not fair competition.

How many scholarships on Zips’ MSOC 2025, I wonder.

Any school not maximizing their number of scholarships is not seriously competing.

[TennZip]

This is an absolutely gigantic loss for Zips men's soccer.

 

Josh Hardin was so good for the zips in fall 2024.  Pitt Panthers have added a very good player.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMIYZkJsJ8h/

[WeRise225]

1 hour ago, TennZip said:

This is an absolutely gigantic loss for Zips men's soccer.

 

Josh Hardin was so good for the zips in fall 2024.  Pitt Panthers have added a very good player.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMIYZkJsJ8h/

What happened? Isn't the portal closed? 

[TennZip]

All of us fans knew that the Zips graduated 7 starters from last year's team.

With Josh Hardin transferring, the zips will now have 8 new starters. (Mitch Budler, Ashton Kamdem and Matt Dreas are the 3 returning starters)

 

Like all fans, I anxiously await the zips news release that will tell us about incoming fall 2025 transfers and about any new international freshmen joining the program.

[Zips1991]

It's becoming harder to not believe that Akron's days as a soccer powerhouse are limited, given the increasing importance of money in college athletic success and Akron's obvious lack of resources.

Edited July 16 by Zips1991

[ZipTopper]

On 7/15/2025 at 12:32 PM, TennZip said:

This is an absolutely gigantic loss for Zips men's soccer.

 

Josh Hardin was so good for the zips in fall 2024.  Pitt Panthers have added a very good player.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMIYZkJsJ8h/

Josh told the staff in February he did not want to be part of the program. 

[NYC ZIP]

Zips transfer CB Simon Guardiero has landed at Nebraska-Omaha according to his Instagram account. Played some decent minutes as a freshman in 2024. Definitely a loss for the back line depth. 

[TennZip]

5 hours ago, NYC ZIP said:

Zips transfer CB Simon Guardiero has landed at Nebraska-Omaha according to his Instagram account. Played some decent minutes as a freshman in 2024. Definitely a loss for the back line depth. 

I had penciled Simon G. in as a starter for fall 2025.    Beto and Jonas were a great center back combo last year.   I hope that the incoming recruit announcement ...includes some center back.

 

I wish Simon G. well at Nebraska-Omaha.

[Zip_ME87]

On 7/16/2025 at 8:29 PM, ZipTopper said:

Josh told the staff in February he did not want to be part of the program. 

 

19 hours ago, NYC ZIP said:

Zips transfer CB Simon Guardiero has landed at Nebraska-Omaha according to his Instagram account. Played some decent minutes as a freshman in 2024. Definitely a loss for the back line depth. 

 

14 hours ago, TennZip said:

I had penciled Simon G. in as a starter for fall 2025.    Beto and Jonas were a great center back combo last year.   I hope that the incoming recruit announcement ...includes some center back.

 

I wish Simon G. well at Nebraska-Omaha.

 

I'm sad to read that Josh no longer wanted to be part of our program. I've suspected since the Spring that he had made a decision to go elsewhere. I wish him the best but cannot say the same for his new collegiate team. Hopefully, our new AD finds a way to make needed improvements for our student-athletes, but as noted, the lure of bigger money elsewhere will likely continue to hamper our program.

 

I haven't seen where Max Barboto will be this Fall. He is among the players in the voting for NPSL Golden Ball (most outstanding player in the NPSL season). He didn't play as many minutes for the Zips as I thought he would have, but is another player whom I looked forward to seeing potentially gain more minutes this year. Max has always been respectful, often initiating conversations with me. I wish Max well.

 

Also, agreed that Simon Guardiero is talented, and I looked forward to his continued improvement and perhaps getting more minutes, maybe becoming a starter for the Zips this Fall. Talented player and gracious person. I reached out to him on IG to wish him well; he responded thanking me for my support and wishing me and the Zips the best.