(tentative) Saturday March 2, 11 am, Canadian Rush @ Akron Saturday March 9, 5 pm, Michigan St @ Akron Sunday March 17, 5 pm, Akron @ Michigan Friday March 22, 7 pm, Akron @ Bowling Green Saturday April 6, 5 pm Dayton @ Akron Saturday April 13, TBD, Akron vs. TBD @ Historic Crew Stadium https://gozips.com/news/2024/1/25/m...lcomes-six-newcomers-for-2024-spring-campaign
Arron Meono, a 2024 GK from LAFC academy, just committed to Akron https://www.instagram.com/p/C4OHuy2rqTb/?img_index=1 He's a really solid GK with great technique. Probably stayed on the market a little long because he doesn't have eye-popping height or athleticism. Plus, he had set his sights high and didn't commit anywhere early. Nevertheless, I wouldn't be surprised if he worked his way past some people over his college career. LAFC Academy has brought in new keepers in his class every year who had more pro-style measurables, but he's always ended up being the GK the Academy coaches and players trusted in key games.
Arron Meono is a 2024 recruit. Tough to imagine him unseating Mich Budler as #1 for however long Budler is around. Which right now looks like 2024 and 2025.
AKR 0-0 MSU FT Spartans win PKs. Spartans looked about the same quality as the average Big East opponent. Maybe not even that good. Zips played well as a unit the first 15 minutes, creating space and asking questions of the MSU defense. Then they inexplicably seemed to lose focus after that. Toward the end, Spartans owned the match. Zips ran out of offensive ideas in the 2nd half, becoming plodding and predictable. Very tough to imagine a positive trajectory for 2024. Newcomers: Roberto Ydrach CB #8 continued to impress, but he made a few miscues. Maximus Barboto MF #21 provided a spark in very limited playing time in the 2nd half. Veterans: Both Zips outside backs played pretty well, Henry and Kamdem.
I definitely wasn't suggesting he would do anything like that right away. That's why I said "in his college career." I was merely suggesting at some point I could see him working his way up to that spot.
MIC 1-2 AKR Stefan Dobrijevic with the brace. Dobrijevic should get more consideration for starting #9. I did not attend
It's been awhile since I've been on the men's forum so this comment is late. Hopefully there is a positive trajectory for the team this year. I always used to say that men's soccer was Akron's best sport but it seems like that honor has gone to the men's basketball team the past few years. A bit off-topic but I really love the story of Enrique Freeman. From an academic scholarship and a walk on player to being the leading rebounder in the country and tied for the most double-doubles in a season at 31. He's got a blue collar work ethic that reminds me of Dennis Rodman. Hopefully that inspires the men's soccer team somewhat. He's got a good head on his shoulders as well and is already working on his MBA.
AKR 3-3 DAY Akron advances on PKs, should anyone care. Sadly, a pretty even contest with ebbs and flows, and several near misses for each side. Zips have lots to do in shoring up a disorganized defense.
AKR 2-0 LOU Played at Historic Columbus Crew Field. Match was not as close as score might suggest. Very solid and steady performance by our Zips, with flashes of brilliance throughout the match. 4-2-3-1 Goal Keeper Devin Armstrong #29 is much more than a suitable backup to Mitch Budler #1. Akron is set at GK for the foreseeable future. His medium ranged save, diving to his left, sealed the deal for me yesterday. (Just in case saving two PKs last week was not enough.) Zips keep trying to move Jonas Buechte #4 to HMF, because he is really good there. The problem is that we have only one Buechte. And he is also our best option at CB. The pairing of Jonas Buechte #4 and Roberto Ydrach #8 seems to be the best Center Back tandem for Zips. Both are heady and steady. Our outside backs really impacted the match yesterday, as they commonly do. Malik Henry #5 put in his usual uneven but sometimes brilliant shift up the right flank. On the left, Ashton Kamdem #27 fought like a demon! He created one chance after another all match long! He was everywhere! Remarkable that he did not score (hit the post). Ashton Kamdem is poised to have a monster Fall 2024. Promising freshman Nicholas Beier #6 was tried at Center Back last week, with mixed results. Beier looks far more comfortable at Holding Midfield where yesterday he facilitated several thrusts into our offensive third. He is also a good ball winner. And speaking of ball winning, Matt Dreas #22 is making a strong case for starting at HMF. Dreas will tackle anything that moves in midfield. Dreas is emerging as a scrapper. Incoming transfer Maximus Barboto #21 continues to show his creativity in the final third. He is quite accustomed to providing the critical pass from Attacking Midfield into space. And he is left footed, so he fits our paradigm of inverted wingers. On the other side? Whoa! When Dyson Clapier #19 has come to play... look out! "Katie, bar the door!" Several players on the Louisville right had nightmares last night featuring Ash and Dice. Stefan Dobrijevic #18 capped off his stellar Spring campaign with a goal and a beautiful assist to Joshua Bartels #15. Stef is another Zip on the verge of greatness. Not necessarily a consensus opinion, I believe Dobrijevic is best suited to play up top. He is currently Akron's best option at Forward. In summary, an excellent performance by Zips MSOC. May this victory be a harbinger of better things to come.
Watched 4 years of Dreas with FC Cincinnati Academy playing with my son. He is a very scrappy player and was always a leader on the field. Hope he has success with you all!
Saturday seemed to be the rounding of a corner for Matt Dreas. If nothing else, ZipsNation need not question his toughness.
Yes. To a fault. Akron may be more stylistically direct than they were 10 years ago. But the same goes for Barcelona, Arsenal, Man City, etc. The sport has evolved. Again. The coordinated high line press (blitz) has somewhat nullified tiki-taka. But Zips still prefer to play out of the back, short passes on the ground.