If anyone in Northeast Ohio is looking for some good college ball friday night, Akron is hosting Penn State at Lee Jackson Field. The Zips are #10 in the latest NSCAA poll with Penn State in at #13. http://gozips.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/akoh-m-soccer-body.html
Akron has always had a good team as far as I can remember. Glad they are doing well. Better watch yerself though. If say, some MetroStars fan stubled upon this you'd get yer head ripped off for not being Crew related.
In the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament in South Bend last weekend, Akron beat Indiana 1 - 0 in overtime and tied Notre Dame 0 - 0 in double ot. IU came in at #10 and ND was #18. Their only loss this season was 1 - 0 against #11 St Louis. Interestingly, most of the core of the team is local NE Ohio, mostly from Cleveland United and Internationals. Thier keepr transferred from Div III Mt Union. Lolla is terrific at getting the most out of a solid, but hardly highly touted, group. No All Americans, no Nationals, just hard working kids. They're for real. We'll be there on Friday night.
IU is not getting results that they should be, or rather, are used to getting. Yeagley won't get the record at this rate. It's a shame. Oh well. Back to Akron aeveryone.
Match Preview http://gozips.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/091803aaa.html It looks like there will be a good amount of rain tomarrow. Hopefully it all blows through before kickoff. http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=44319
...And a certain PSU guy around here should be a little nervous. The highly touted Nittney Lions have been pretty disappointing thus far. They lost to a couple good teams (UCLA and Cal Fullerton) and dropped about ten spots in the rankings. Slim victories over lightly regarded (the Brits would say they were "unfancied") sides like Bradley (2-1), Tulsa (3-2), Boston College (2-1) and Hartwick (2-1) have done little to restore the glow. PSU has had two or three incredible recruiting classes in a row, and great things, even National Championships, were expected.. Akron is their first real test since they dropped their first two games. They have a lot to prove.
Zips return to rankings, will get appropriate test - Akron Beacon Journal http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/sports/6809023.htm The weather seems to have cleared up and shouldn't be an issue at kickoff.
1-0 Akron. The Zips controlled the run of play in the first half but didn't get too many good scoring opportunities. Akron hit the crossbar with less than two minutes remaining in the first half off a header from a corner kick. The period ended scoreless. The second hald was more even with PSU pushing harder. Akron was awarded a penalty only to be denied by the woodwork. They finally pulled ahead with about 20 minutes left on a beautiful free kick from Hans Jorgen Haugland who caught the keeper off his line. Overall an entertaining evening with over 1,000 people in attendence.
Akron 1 - 0 Penn State. Hell of a game. Overflow crowd, end-to-end action. I think if I was picking a team I'd take PSU. Their talent is tremendous. But Akron is so very well organized, and they execute very well. 0-0 at the break; Akron had much the better of play in the first half. Penn STate came out firing to start the second, but Akron's keeper, a transfer from Div III Mt Union, handled it all. Akron missed a PK off the crossbar, but later converted a brilliant 30 yard free. Terrific match.
Match Report http://gozips.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/091903aaa.html Photo Gallery http://gozips.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/091903aaa.html