Akron Zips men's soccer

The Akron Zips men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of the University of Akron. The team is a member of the Mid-American Conference of Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Akron is regularly ranked in the Top 10 NSCAA collegiate men's soccer poll. They have been ranked No. 1 previously in 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2016. The Zips have played their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field, formerly named Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field and Cub Cadet Field, since 1966. They won their first national championship in 2010.

History
In 1954, an Oberlin College transfer named Stu Parry started the soccer team at Akron. That year, they finished the season with two wins and one tie. The next year, men's soccer was officially offered by the university and after starting the season with two losses, they ended with a 2–4–1 record, with the team's first win coming against rival Kent State.

Parry eventually led the team to nine Ohio College Soccer Association titles as well as six NCAA playoff appearances. In 1986, the men's soccer team gained the most exposure in the NCAA tournament, finishing second to Duke by a score of 1–0. A Duke player, Ken Lolla, took over the program in 1993 and then became Akron's all-time winningest coach, with a record of 160–68–25. He also led the team to their first No. 1 ranking, which was also the first ever MAC team in any sport to be ranked No. 1.

In 2006, Caleb Porter became head coach, leading the team to first-place finishes in the conference every year from 2007 to 2012, an appearance in the final of the national championship (the College Cup) in 2009, and a national championship in 2010.

Jared Embick succeeded Porter as head coach after the 2012 season. The team has finished first in the conference every year since, and reached the national semi-final in 2015.

Colors and badge
The team uses the school colors of blue and gold.

Stadium
Lee Jackson Field was dedicated on October 22, 1966. Along with the soccer venue, the 23 acre complex also includes fields for the school's baseball, softball, and track and field competition areas along with a practice field for the football team. The fields are located towards the southeast corner of the University of Akron campus, just west of InfoCision Stadium.

Other expansions and upgrades for the stadium have included a grandstand with seating capacity of 2,200, berm seating around the stadium with a capacity of 2,600, and lighting which meets national television specifications.

Announced in March 2011 was a partnership between The University of Akron and Cub Cadet, the premier brand of Cleveland-based MTD Products, which will rename the Zips' new, state-of-the-art grass soccer field Cub Cadet Field.

In June 2011, the field was renamed FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet field after Cub Cadet as well as First Energy plans were announced to build 300 new bleacher seats, permanent restrooms, and a concession stand along with the renaming.

Supporters
The AK-ROWDIES are a student organization which cheer on sports teams in various sports at the university. The ROWDIES were formed as an official student organization in 2005. During the soccer games, they can be found behind the goal area, heckling the opponent's goalie.

Roster
As of March 27, 2017

Notable alumni

 * 🇺🇸 Conrad Earnest
 * 🇺🇸 George Nanchoff (1973–1976) – Retired
 * 🇺🇸 Louis Nanchoff (1974–1977) – Retired
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Benny Dargle (1975–1977) – Retired
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Shaun Pendleton (1982–1985) – Retired
 * 🇨🇦 Roderick Scott (1985–88) – Retired
 * 🇳🇿 Cameron Knowles (2001–04) – Retired
 * 🇺🇸 Devon McKenney (2003–2007)
 * 🇧🇦 Siniša Ubiparipović (2004–2006) – Retired
 * 🇺🇸 Evan Bush (2005–2008) – Currently with the Montreal Impact
 * 🇺🇸 Justin Sadler (2005)
 * 🇺🇸 Ben Zemanski (2006–2009)
 * Steve Zakuani (2006–2007) – Retired
 * 🇺🇸 Chris Korb (2007–2010)
 * 🇺🇸 Michael Nanchoff (2007–2010) – Retired
 * 🇺🇸 Blair Gavin (2007–2009) – Retired
 * 🇺🇸 Teal Bunbury (2008–2009) – Currently with New England Revolution
 * 🇺🇸 Darlington Nagbe (2008–2010) – Currently with Atlanta United
 * 🇹🇭 Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2007–2010) – Currently with Bangkok United
 * 🇺🇸 Kofi Sarkodie (2008–2010)
 * 🇺🇸 Zarek Valentin (2009–2010)- Currently with the Portland Timbers
 * 🇺🇸 Scott Caldwell (2009–2012) – Currently with the New England Revolution
 * 🇺🇸 Chad Barson (2009–2012) – Retired
 * 🇯🇲 Darren Mattocks (2010–2011) – Currently with FC Cincinnati
 * 🇺🇸 Perry Kitchen (2010) – Currently with LA Galaxy
 * 🇺🇸 DeAndre Yedlin (2011–2012) – Currently with Newcastle United
 * 🇺🇸 Wil Trapp (2011–2012) – Currently with Columbus Crew SC
 * 🇺🇸 Dillon Serna (2012) – Currently with the Colorado Rapids
 * 🇺🇸 Saad Abdul-Salaam (2012–2014) – Currently with Seattle Sounders
 * 🇨🇦 Richie Laryea (2014–2015) – Currently with Toronto FC
 * 🇺🇸 Adam Najem (2013–2016) – Currently with Memphis 901
 * 🇺🇸 Jonathan Lewis (2016) – Currently with Colorado Rapids
 * João Moutinho (2018) - 2018 MLS Superdraft First-Overall Draft Pick for Los Angeles FC

Previous head coaches
Listed according to when they became head coach for Akron (year in parentheses):


 * 1950s–1960s: Stu Parry (1955)
 * 1970s–1980s: Bill Killen (1970), Robert Dowdy (1974), Steve Parker (1982)
 * 1990s–2000s (decade): Ken Lolla (1993), Caleb Porter (2006)

Achievements

 * NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship:
 * Winners (1): 2010
 * Runners-up (3): 1986, 2009, 2018
 * Mid-American Conference Tournament:
 * Winners (15): 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
 * Runners-up (4): 1995, 1997, 2001, 2006
 * Mid-American Conference Regular Season:
 * Winners (17): 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
 * Runners-up (5): 1994, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004
 * Ohio College Soccer Association:
 * Winners (19): 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987
 * Mid-Continent Conference Regular Season:
 * Winners (1): 1991

Records

 * Most Goals in a game: 14 (12–2) vs. Cleveland State, September 9, 2005
 * Most Goals in a half: 8 vs. Green Bay, 1986
 * Lee Jackson Field attendance: 4,744 vs. Tulsa, September 22, 2010
 * FirstEnergy Stadium–Cub Cadet Field attendance: 5,819 vs. Ohio State, September 28, 2011