College Soccer News Article

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http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page1971.htm

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WOOT!

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Akron - The Zips will have a fresh look this year due to the loss of six seniors from the 2007 squad that were multi-year starters. However, the biggest news coming out of Akron is the fact that Caleb Porter has again attracted a recruiting class that boasts a ton of talent and looks to be among the top tier of classes in the country. A couple of seasons ago it looked like a slight window of opportunity existed for teams in the MAC to pick up a little ground on the Zips. In 2006 Northern Illinois University captured the MAC Tourney title and Akron did not receive an invite to the NCAA Tourney. However the Zips responded in 2007 with a 15-4-2 overall record that included a 4-0-1 mark in MAC play and the MAC regular season and tournament titles. Porter’s second consecutive stellar recruiting class likely signals that any window of opportunity that might have temporarily existed has now been closed. That is not to say that the MAC race in 2008 will not be competitive because it will be but Akron is clearly the elite team of the league and looks to be gaining rather than losing momentum. Last year the Zips earned a number fourteen seed in the NCAA Tourney but were one and out in NCAA Tourney play after being upset at home by South Florida 1-0 in overtime. The real measure of Akron’s success in the future will be their ability to continue to take care of business in MAC Conference play while securing wins over high profile non-conference opponents and putting together a decent run in NCAA Tourney play. In 2007 the Zips were extremely effective on the defensive side of the ball holding opponents to a total of only 13 goals. The biggest challenge facing Porter heading into the 2008 campaign will likely be finding a replacement for defender Corey Sipos (3g, 0a) who was the 2007 MAC Conference Player of the Year and a College Soccer News Third Team All-American.. The Zips will also be without backs Devin McKenney and Matt Augustin who were four year starters, veteran midfielders Elliot Bradbrook (5g, 2a) and Steve Kalan (2g, 5a), and forward Pablo Moreira (5g, 2a). The loss of so much experience and leadership may make what is a very difficult early schedule even more daunting for the Zips. Akron opens the season by traveling to Bloomington to face Notre Dame and Indiana in the IU Classic. They then return home to host West Virginia and Cincinnati from the Big East and then take to the road again to face New Mexico and Missouri State in Albuquerque. Despite the losses due to graduation, Akron returns a solid nucleus of players led by senior midfielder Matt Tutich (5g, 3a), senior defender Ossie Michalsen (0g, 2a) and senior goalkeeper Evan Bush. All three are First Team All-MAC selections with three years of starting experience under their belts. Sophomore forward Steve Zakuani (6g, 2a) returns to lead the Akron attack up-top. Zakuani is a prime timer who had an outstanding freshman season that included being named the MAC Newcomer of the Year, a College Soccer News All-Freshman Team selection, and an NSCAA First Team All-Great Lakes Region selection. Junior Stephen Ostergren (2g, 2a) is among other returning players who should vie for playing time up-top. Super sophomores Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2, 10a) and Blair Gavin (1g, 1a) return after earning starting positions last year as freshmen. Ampaipitakwong was a Third Team All-Great Lakes selection and was named to the College Soccer News All-Freshman Team. Gavin added to an already impressive resume with playing time as a member of the U.S. U-20 National team in February 2008. Sophomore Michael Nanchoff (1g, 2a) and junior Ben Zemanski (3g, 0a) are among other returning players who should play key roles in the Akron midfield. Bush gives the Zips an experienced and very sound presence between the pipes. The Concord, Ohio native recorded twelve shutouts in 2007 to up his career total to thirty-five. Bush’s play in goal and Michalsen’s play in the back, particularly in the early going, will likely set the pace for the Zips while some new faces settle into starting roles on the defensive side of the ball. Last year Porter did an excellent job of merging his freshmen recruits in with his returning players. Look for his effectiveness in that regard in 2008 to be a critical success factor for Akron. Porter has announced the addition of an eight member recruiting class that includes three players whose resume includes national team experience and three whose resume includes being named an NSCAA All-American. Porter stated, “This group should make their presence felt immediately, complimenting our current players while bolstering certain aspects of our team.” Kofi Sarkodie is a defender from Huber Heights, Ohio out of the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Sarkodie is a multi-year member of the U.S. National Team program and a two-time NSCAA Youth All-American. He should contribute immediately. Teal Bunbury is a forward from Prior Lake, Minnesota out of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s School. Bunbury is a member of the Canadian U-17 National Team and a two-time NSCAA Youth All-American. He also is a member of the Region II ODP team. Darlington Nagbe is a forward from Lakewood, Ohio out of St. Edwards High School where he was a First Team All-Cleveland selection. Nagbe is a member of the Region II ODP team and was a 2007 ESP All-Star. Chris Barton is a midfielder from Twinsburg, Ohio out of Walsh Jesuit High School where he was named an NSCAA High School All-American and was a First Team All-Ohio selection. Barton is a member of the Region II ODP team and plays club for the Cleveland Internationals. Ryan Greenhill is a midfielder from Solon, Ohio out of Solon High School where he was named to the NSCAA All-Region IV team and was a two-time All-Cleveland selection. Greenhill is a member of the Ohio North ODP team and plays club with CASA. Thomas Schmitt is a forward from Berea, Ohio out of Berea High School where he was a First Team All-Cleveland and All-Southwest Conference selection while tallying seventy career goals. Schmitt is a member of the Ohio North ODP squad. Dominic Moore is an athletic and quick defender from Akron, Ohio out of Firestone High School where he was an All-Ohio Second Team Selection with thirty-three career goals. James McCormick is a goalkeeper from Winter Park, Florida out of Winter Park High School where he was named the Orange County Player of the Year and a First Team All-Central Florida selection while recording twenty-nine career shutouts. McCormick is a multi-year participant in the Florida ODP.