During Embick’s time at Akron, the Zips have posted the highest winning percentage in the nation with an overall record of 210-53-31 (.767), including a 60-6-5 (.880) mark in MAC play, while securing 11 conference tournament titles, 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament and three appearances in the College Cup final.
Akron’s 100 victories since Embick took the helm of the Zips’ program in 2013 rank third among all men’s soccer programs in Division I.
The Zips have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 17 of the last 19 campaigns, including 12 straight from 2007-2018.
During his seven years as head coach at Akron, the Zips have earned eight All-America citations, 21 all-region awards, 53 All-MAC selections, three academic All-America award winners, a pair of MAC Player and Newcomer of the Year awards, 51 academic All-MAC recipients and 20 MAC Distinguished Scholars.
Due in large part to recruiting efforts of Embick and his staff, Akron identified and secured some of the best prospects in the country – and around the world – with top-five recruiting classes. The Zips’ classes of 2015, 2012 and 2009 were ranked No. 1 in the country, while the classes of 2016, 2011 and 2010 each received a No. 2 designation. Akron’s 2018 class was tabbed No. 9 nationally.
More importantly, Akron’s recruits have flourished in the Zips’ system, which features a style of play that is attractive and attack-oriented, yet effective on both sides of the ball. In total, Embick recruited or helped develop 42 players who have gone on to play professionally either in MLS or overseas since 2007.
Since 2008, Akron leads the country with eight players selected among the top-five selections in the MLS SuperDraft. The Zips also boast the highest total of players chosen among the top-10 draftees over the same span with 12.
Persevering through injuries throughout the 2019 season, the Zips captured their 20th MAC regular season title with a 4-0-1 mark in league play en route to Embick earning MAC Coach the Year honors for the first time. Additionally, Colin Biros, David Egbo and Carlo Ritaccio collected first-team All-MAC accolades, while Will Jackson, Christian Lue Young and Daniel Strachan were tabbed second-team honorees.
The Zips also found success in the classroom as Akron was named for the 12th consecutive year and 13th time overall by the United Soccer Coaches as a 2018-19 Collegiate Team Academic Award winner boasting a team 3.21 grade-point average.
Akron went on to post its 18th consecutive double-digit victory campaign in 2018 and concluded the year with a 15-7-2 ledger after advancing to the title match of the College Cup for the fourth time in program history.
The Zips began the campaign ranked in the top 10 in each of the four major poll and went unranked the majority of the season before coming together to capture the MAC tournament title with a 3-0 triumph past Western Michigan en route to collecting the program’s 33rnd NCAA Tournament berth.
Akron registered three second-half goals, including a pair from Egbo, to garner a 3-1 victory over Rider in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament.
A regular-season rematch awaited Akron in the second round as the Zips traveled to Syracuse, N.Y. to encounter the Orange. Abdi Mohamed gave the Zips a 1-0 lead, while second-half goals from Marcel Zajac and Morgan Hackworth, capped a 3-1 victory over Syracuse.
Akron headed into its match at top-seeded Wake Forest as a decided underdog. The Zips again proved unbreakable in the contest as Zajac’s game-winning goal in the 46th minute (45:51) lifted Akron to a dramatic 1-0 triumph over the Demon Deacons.
Advancing to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season and seventh time overall, the Zips were tasked with taking down the three-time defending NCAA Champion Stanford on its home field.
Traveling across the country for the third time of the season, Akron faced the daunting task of facing a Cardinal squad that had not surrendered an NCAA Tournament goal in 14 matches, dating back to a 2-1 win over Wake Forest in the Elite Eight in 2015. Led by a pair of first-half goals from Zajac and a game-winning goal from Biros in the 81st minute, the Zips ended the reign of three-time defending NCAA Champion Stanford with a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Cardinal.
Playing in the College Cup for the second straight season and sixth time in program history, the Zips took their second trip to California in a week to square off against Michigan State in the semifinal round. Garnering goals from Egbo, Ritaccio, Skye Harter, Zajac and Braden Petno, Akron registered a stunning 5-1 victory over the Spartans.
The Zips became the fourth unseeded team to reach the championship match of the College Cup since the tournament expanded to 48 teams in 2001 joining Charlotte (2014), UC Santa Barbara (2006) and Stanford (2002). Akron also was the 10th squad since the NCAA Tournament field expanded to earn a berth in the College Cup coming through the draw as an unseeded squad. Akron joined UMBC (2014), Charlotte (2011), UMass (2007), UC Santa Barbara (2006-NCAA Champion), SMU (2005), Duke (2004), Santa Clara (2003), Stanford (2002) and Creighton (2002).
Sparking Akron’s efforts on the campaign was the play of Egbo, who earned third-team United Soccer Coaches All-America accolades, as well as All-MAC performers Harter, Ben Lundt, Ritaccio, Sam Tojaga and Zajac.
The Zips culminated the campaign winning nine consecutive matches to reach the title game of the College Cup, where Akron dropped a 1-0 decision to Maryland.
As a team, the Zips rated second in the NCAA in 2018 in total points (154), third in total assists (56), fourth in total goals (49), sixth in assists per game (2.33), seventh in corner kicks (6.67), 11th in points per contest (6.42), 14th in scoring offense (2.04), 31st in winning percentage (.667) and 45th in shots per game (13.63).
Akron posted its 17th consecutive double-digit victory campaign in 2017 and concluded the year with a 18-4-2 ledger, including a 4-1-0 mark in the MAC, while also posting a perfect 12-0 ledger at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field. The Zips were rewarded by the NCAA with a No. 5 national seed. Akron captured the MAC tournament title with a 3-1 triumph past No. 4 Western Michigan on the Broncos’ home field en route to collecting the program’s 32nd NCAA Tournament berth.
Sparking Akron’s efforts on the campaign was the play of freshman Joao Moutinho, who garnered first-team United Soccer Coaches All-America accolades and was selected by TopDrawerSoccer.com as its National Freshman of the Year and the MAC as its Freshman of the Year, respectively, en route to becoming the only second Zip to go No. 1 overall in the MLS SuperDraft in program history with his selection by Los Angeles FC in 2018. Moutinho joined Steve Zakuani (2009) as the second Akron player to be drafted No. 1, as Zakuani was the top pick for the Seattle Sounders in 2009.
Moutinho became the 12th University of Akron Men’s Soccer standout to garner a Generation adidas contract, a total that leads the nation since the program’s re-branding began in 2006. Additionally, since the combined Project-40 (1997-2005) and Generation adidas (2006-present) initiative started in 1997, the Zips’ 12 signings rank fifth in the country behind only UCLA (15), Maryland (14), Indiana (13) and Virginia (13).
Niko De Vera, Nate Shultz and Holthusen became the 23rd, 24th and 25th Zips to be drafted during the MLS SuperDraft after teammate Moutinho was selected No. 1 overall by Los Angeles FC, a total that was recognized by ESPN.com in 2018 as the best in the NCAA over the past 10 drafts in their Ultimate Draft Ranking.
De Vera was chosen in the second round (No. 31 overall) by the New York Red Bulls, while Shultz and Holthusen were taken in the third round by the Los Angeles Galaxy (No. 48 overall) and Portland Timbers (No. 64 overall), respectively.
The Zips’ four selections marked the most players taken from Akron since 2014 when Robbie Derschang (No. 27 overall – Philadelphia), Eric Stevenson (No. 34 – New York Red Bulls), Aodhan Quinn (No. 52 – Philadelphia) and Reinaldo Brenes (No. 76 – Sporting KC) were drafted.
Akron’s 13-match unbeaten streak was the longest for the Zips since a 19-game streak running over the course of two seasons from Sept. 14, 2012 through Sept. 1, 2013.
Faced with the task of playing the MAC Tournament away from FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field for the first time since the 2006 campaign, the Zips garnered a 90th-minute goal from Harter and a golden goal from Holthusen to earn a 2-1 victory over SIU Edwardsville in the tournament semifinals before claiming their 14th league tournament title with a 3-1 win past No. 4 Western Michigan.
Akron opened NCAA Tournament play downing No. 22 Seattle, 3-0, in the tournament’s second round, before edging a talented No. 13 Wisconsin squad in overtime, 3-2, in third-round competition.
In the Elite Eight, the Zips faced a road test at No. 6 Louisville, where Akron battled the Cardinals to a 0-0 double-overtime draw before advancing to their fifth College Cup in program history on penalty kicks, 4-3. In the semifinals of the College Cup, the Zips suffered a 2-0 setback to top-rated and eventual national champion Stanford.
Led by Manuel Cordeiro, Gainford, Holthusen, Hinds and Moutinho, who were selected as first-team All-MAC men’s soccer selections, eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades in 2017. Additionally, Belana, De Vera and Shultz were recognized as second-team selections.
After opening the year suffering back-to-back 1-0 road setbacks at No. 16 Utah Valley and No. 3 Denver, Akron began a seven-match unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory past No. 10 Washington in the Zips’ home opener at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
Akron’s biggest triumph during that span came with a resounding 4-1 triumph over No. 1 Michigan State, marking the highest-rated team the Zips have defeated at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field since then top-rated Akron handed No. 2 Tulsa a 4-0 setback on Sept. 24, 2010.
The Zips then registered the 700th victory in program history on the strength of a golden goal in the second overtime from Faisal Ghaffur in a 2-1 decision past Saint Mary’s.
Akron finished the first month of the season owning a 5-2-1 record before upending Syracuse, 1-0, on Oct. 3. The Zips suffered a 1-0 setback in their MAC opener at No. 12 Western Michigan on Oct. 7 before rolling off eight consecutive victories to close the regular season as part of an overall 13-match unbeaten streak. During that span, Akron outscored its opposition 22-2 and posted shutout wins over No. 8 Notre Dame (2-0), No. 20 Pittsburgh (3-0) and No. 25 West Virginia (4-0).
Akron's 13-match unbeaten streak was the longest for the Zips since a 19-game streak running over the course of two seasons from Sept. 14, 2012 through Sept. 1, 2013.
Faced with the task of playing the MAC Tournament away from FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field for the first time since the 2006 campaign, the Zips garnered a 90th-minute goal from Skye Harter and a golden goal from Holthusen to earn a 2-1 victory over SIU Edwardsville in the tournament semifinals before claiming their 14th league tournament title with a 3-1 win past No. 4 Western Michigan.
The Zips came into the 2016 campaign on the heels of the programs fourth appearance in the College Cup in 2015 and boasted seven returning starters and the second-rated recruiting class in the country as heralded by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
The Zips began the season as the preseason No. 1 according to Soccer America before ascending to the consensus No. 1 team after the opening weekend of play. Akron went on to post its 16th consecutive double-digit victory campaign and concluded the year with a 13-6-3 ledger, including a 3-1-1 mark in the MAC. The Zips earned the MAC regular season and tournament titles en route to collecting the program’s 31st NCAA Tournament.
Akron was led by the play of Adam Najem, who garnered third-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America accolades, respectively, en route to directing the Zips to rank third in the NCAA in goals (45), points (135) and shots per game (16.95), fourth in points per contest (6.14), fifth in assists (45), sixth in assists per game (2.05) and scoring offense (2.05) and eighth in shots on goal per tilt (6.91).
The Zips also found success in the classroom as Akron boasted a team 3.09 grade-point average, while Najem was tabbed a first-team NSCAA Academic All-American for the second straight season.
Led by Belana, Najem and Brad Ruhaak, who were selected as first-team All-MAC men’s soccer selections, eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades in 2016. Additionally, Gainford, Hinds, Holthusen, Jonathan Lewis and Lundt were recognized as second-team selections.
Najem was honored as the MAC Player of the Year, while Lewis was selected as the MAC Freshman of the Year.
Akron opened the year with back-to-back shutout victories at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field over No. 7 Georgetown and No. 9 Seattle. After suffering consecutive setbacks on the road, the Zips returned home to net a pair of 2-0 wins past Oregon State and No. 5 UC Santa Barbara.
Akron finished the first month of the season owning a 5-3-1 record before upending Buffalo, 4-0, in the MAC opener on Oct. 7. The Zips added wins over Northern Illinois (7-0) and Ohio State (2-0) in addition to earning draws at Penn State and Bowling Green to stand at 8-5-3.
The Zips registered a 3-0 victory over Western Michigan to earn the right to host the MAC Championship at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field after claiming the schools 19th regular season league title.
Akron captured the MAC Tournament crown with a 2-1 victory past Buffalo before opening NCAA Tournament play downing Villanova, 2-0, in the tournament’s opening round. The Zips’ tournament run came to an end in the second round with a 1-0 setback at No. 4 Indiana.
In January, 2017, Lewis became the 12th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection third overall in the MLS SuperDraft by New York City FC. Additionally, Danilo Radjen was selected in the fourth round (No. 36) by the Houston Dynamo.
The Zips entered the 2015 campaign fueled by the return of nine starters from a squad that posted a 13-6-2 ledger in 2014.
The Zips finished the season ranked No. 3 nationally with an 18-3-3 ledger, including 4-0-1 mark in the MAC. Akron’s efforts were rewarded as the Zips earned the MAC’s regular season and tournament crowns en route to collecting a No. 4 national seed and a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the 30th time in program history.
Akron was led by the play of Najem and Richie Laryea, who garnered second- and third-team NSCAA All-America accolades, respectively, en route to directing the Zips to rank second in the NCAA in points (159), goals (56), and scoring offense (2.33), third in points per game (6.63) and shots per contest (17.54), fourth in assists (47), seventh in winning percentage (.813) and 10th in shots on goal per game (7.13).
The Zips also found success in the classroom as Akron boasted a team 3.1955 grade-point average, while Najem was tabbed a first-team NSCAA Academic All-American.
Led by Gainford, Holthusen, Laryea, Najem, Ruhaak and Andrew Souders, who were selected as first-team All-MAC men’s soccer selections, eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades. Additionally, Jake Fenlason and Sean Sepe were recognized as second-team selections.
The Zips came into the campaign maintaining a No. 25 preseason ranking by the NSCAA as well as being tabbed preseason No. 24 by College Soccer News.
After opening the season splitting a pair of matches at VCU and Old Dominion, Akron rolled off three consecutive victories over ranked opponents registering a 1-0 triumph at No. 4 Georgetown before notching a 3-2 road win at No. 6 Maryland and then opening its home campaign downing No. 14 Saint Louis, 3-2.
In a rematch of its 2014 NCAA Tournament showdown, the Zips battled Ohio State to a 3-3 double-overtime draw before No. 8 Wake Forest bettered Akron, 2-1.
The Zips then began a run of seven straight wins with a 2-0 triumph at No. 25 UC Santa Barbara. Akron followed with victories past Penn State (1-0), UAB (2-1 in OT), Santa Clara (2-0), Buffalo (2-1), Northern Illinois (4-0) and Michigan State (4-1) before earning a 1-1 double-overtime draw at Western Michigan.
Akron closed out the month of October recording a 2-0 win at West Virginia before dropping a 4-2 decision against No. 25 UCLA to open the month of November.
The Zips registered a 4-0 victory over Bowling Green to earn the right to host the MAC Championship at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field after claiming the schools 18th regular season league title.
Akron captured the MAC Tournament crown with a 1-0 victory past Buffalo before opening NCAA Tournament play downing No. 25 Rutgers, 6-1, in the tournament’s second round.
The Zips continued tournament besting No. 11 SMU, 2-1, before earning a 3-2 overtime victory over No. 3 Creighton in the Elite Eight to advance to the College Cup where Akron battled eventual national champion Stanford to a 1-1 double-overtime draw, before the Cardinal advanced on penalty kicks, 8-7 in 10 rounds.
In January, 2016, Laryea became the 11th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection seventh overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City.
Akron entered the 2014 season seeking to reload the Zips’ talented foundation with a young squad following the departure of six starters from a 2013 team that posted a 17-4-1 record and a No. 7 national ranking.
Led by Najem, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Fenlason and Souders, who were selected as first-team All-MAC men’s soccer selections, seven Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades a year ago. Additionally, Holthusen, Laryea and Victor Souto were recognized as second-team selections.
The Zips earned a pair of hard-fought 2-1 triumphs over Western Michigan and Bowling Green to secure the 11th MAC Championship crown and the 29th NCAA Tournament berth in program history.
Akron entered its NCAA Tournament showdown at Ohio State having won eight of its last 10 matches. The Zips took an early first-half lead when Najem delivered his team-leading 14th goal of the season in the 31st minute to give Akron a 1-0 advantage. A second-half goal by the Buckeyes forced overtime where neither side was able to net a golden goal ending the contest as a 1-1 draw.
In penalty kicks, the two sides nearly went shot for shot on for 15 rounds before the Zips were ultimately outshot 13-12.
Akron finished the campaign ranked 17th nationally in goals scored (37), while defensively rating 25th and 26th, respectively, in team goals against average (.785) and save percentage (.815).
Individually, Najem, who garnered first-team All-Great Lake Regional honors, ranked fourth, fifth, eighth, eighth and 24th in the NCAA in goals scored (14), total points (32), goals per game (0.67), points per match (1.52) and game-winning goals (4). Jake Fenlason was equally impressive in goal rating 27th, 32nd and 53rd nationally in goals against average (.785), save percentage (.811) and total saves (73).
In January, 2015, Abdul-Salaam became the 10th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection 12th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City.
Despite the loss of 14 players to the professional ranks – including nine underclassmen – over the previous three seasons, Embick enjoyed an impressive inaugural campaign as the Zips head coach in 2013. With an opening day lineup that featured five first-year starters, Embick guided Akron to a sweep of MAC regular season and tournament titles, a No. 7 national ranking in the NSCAA’s final regular season poll, and an overall record of 17-4-1 (.795), which represented the seventh-highest winning percentage in the country.
Moreover, Akron took a 10-match unbeaten streak (9-0-1) into the NCAA Tournament and defeated defending national champion Indiana, 3-2, in the first round of play at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field. Further establishing its standing as an elite program.
In the summer of 2014, Embick had the unique opportunity to watch one of his former recruits, DeAndre Yedlin become the first player in the history of the Akron Soccer program to represent the U.S. Men’s National Team at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Yedlin was a two-year star for the Zips from 2011-12 before signing a Homegrown Contract with the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer following his sophomore season. He currently plays for Newcastle United of the English Premier League and was a member of the USMNT’s CONCACAF Gold Cup squad in 2016.
Embick, who was the 2010 National Assistant Coach of the Year, has been a key component of the Zips’ dominant run in college soccer – culminating with the school’s first team national championship in any sport in 2010 – since joining the staff in 2007.
The Zips’ historic 2010 campaign capped off one of the most impressive two-year runs the college soccer world has ever seen. During that time, the Zips, who lost just once during the regular run of play over 50 matches, posted an overall mark of 45-2-3 while becoming the first school to advance to national championship games in back-to-back seasons since Indiana accomplished the feat in 2003 and 2004.
Leaving little doubt of its strength of schedule, Akron achieved this success while playing the most difficult competition in college soccer with the No. 1-ranked RPI in the final regular-season release in 2009 and the No.1-ranked non-conference RPI in 2010.
Fueled by one of the greatest defensive seasons in college soccer history, the Zips matched an NCAA record by winning 23 consecutive matches on their rampage to the College Cup and national runner-up finish in 2009. UA didn’t allow a single goal during the NCAA Tournament that year and finished with 19 shutouts – representing the second-highest total all-time. Furthermore, it’s goals-against average (0.27) and shutout percentage (.760) were ranked third all-time.
The Zips then matched another NCAA milestone in 2010 by registering their 11th consecutive shutout in a 4-0 rout at home over No. 2 Tulsa before a sold out crowd and nationally televised audience. The win also represented the 29th game of UA’s 48-match home-unbeaten streak, which shattered an NCAA record the following season.
Records continued to fall in 2012 when Akron ran the table against the MAC with a 7-0 mark during the regular season before capturing its fifth league tournament title in six seasons. In doing so, UA pushed its conference unbeaten streak to 47 matches (44-0-3) to set another NCAA standard. In fact, one would have to go all the way back to the 2006 season to find the Zips’ last loss to a MAC foe.
The success of this formula was no more evident than at the 2011 MLS SuperDraft where seven Zips had their names called, including five with the first eight selections overall, to set a pair of MLS records.
Embick has also served as a staff coach with the Under-16 and Under-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Cleveland Internationals club team for the past five years.
Prior to joining the Zips, Embick spent four seasons (2003-06) as the head men’s soccer coach at Missouri Baptist University where he led the Spartans to a record of 47-21-8 and the program’s first NAIA regional tournament berth in 2003. In all, Embick spent six seasons at MBU, including two seasons as a graduate assistant (2000-01) and one season as an assistant coach (2002).
During his time at Missouri Baptist, Embick also served as assistant coach for River Cities FC of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) whom he helped lead to a 13-2-1 record in its inaugural season and an appearance in the WPSL national final.
