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WVU Hosts No. 5 Akron Wednesday at 7 p.m.
October 27, 2015 10:30 AM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After a three match roadtrip, the West Virginia University men’s soccer team returns home to host No. 5 Akron on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers own an 11-8 record against ranked opponents since 2006, including a 4-1 mark against teams ranked in the top six. Since head coach Marlon LeBlanc’s arrival in Morgantown in 2006, WVU knocked off No. 1 UConn in 2007 and 2011, as well as wins over No. 3 South Florida in 2009 and No. 6 Notre Dame in 2006.
“Our guys are looking forward to getting back home and being in front of our fans,” LeBlanc said. “For a big game with Akron coming in, you couldn’t ask to be at a better place than Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. We’ve won a lot of big, big games at home, playing in front of our fans. We have a heck of a home field advantage when our fans turn out. Akron is going to be a formidable challenge for us, but when we’re playing at home, we’re very difficult to beat.”
Tickets can be purchased at the DDSS ticket office or in advance at WVUGAME.com. Admission is free for WVU students with a valid ID. Wednesday is “BOGO Coke & Popcorn” night at DDSS, and fans who purchase one popcorn or Coke product will receive a second for free.
Fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person can watch a live stream on WVUsports.com, presented by CityNet. DJ Jamiel and Caroline Szwed will be on the call. Live stats can be found at WVULiveStats.com, and updates will also be available on social media by following and connecting with @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The Mountaineers (6-9, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) own a 5-2 mark at home this season and a 57-24-9 in LeBlanc’s 10 seasons. In the past six years, WVU owns an impressive 41-12-3 record at the friendly confines of Dick Dlesk Stadium. Akron (11-2-2, 2-0-1 MAC) is 6-1-1 away from home in 2015.
WVU is among the conference and national leaders in several statistical categories. The Mountaineers are No. 7 in the nation and first in the conference with 2.20 assists per game, and eighth nationally with 33 total assists. West Virginia’s 5.53 points per game is second in the MAC and No. 23 in the NCAA, while WVU is No. 25 in the country with 83 total points. Additionally, with 4.33 saves per game, WVU is first in the MAC.
Individually, Sophomore Joey Piatczyc continues to lead the nation in assists. He is averaging 0.80 assist per game and is also first with 12 total assists. Senior Zak Leedom is third in the MAC and No. 29 in the country with six total assists, and senior Jamie Merriam’s three game-winning goals is the best in the league. In goal, freshman Alec Boerner’s 41 total saves and 3.73 saves per game is second in the MAC.
SCOUTING AKRON
No. 5 Akron is 11-2-2 on the season and 2-0-1 in Mid-American Conference play. The Zips have posted a 6-1-1 record away from home after a 1-1 draw at Western Michigan on Oct. 24. UA is on an eight match unbeaten streak, a stretch that began with a 2-0 victory at No. 25 UC Santa Barbara, the Zips’ sixth match against a ranked opponent. Akron also owns wins at No. 4 Georgetown, at No. 6 Maryland and vs. No. 14 Saint Louis.
Jared Embick is in his third season as head coach of the Zips after spending six seasons as an associate head coach. Akron is 41-12-5 under Embick, with a pair of MAC championships and NCAA Tournament berths.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE ZIPS
West Virginia is 2-12-1 all-time vs. Akron, but just four of those matches have occurred in Morgantown. Before Akron came to Dick Dlesk Stadium in 2013, the last time WVU hosted UA was in 1972, a 4-3 win for the Mountaineers. Since West Virginia joined the Mid-American Conference in 2012, three of the four matches have been one-goal contests. Last year, Akron posted a 3-2 win at home. Andy Bevin scored both goals for WVU, while Jamie Merriam and Ryan Cain netted assists.
UP NEXT: VS. PENN
West Virginia plays its final nonconference match of the regular season when it hosts Penn on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. WVU is 1-0 against Penn after a 1-0 road victory last season. The Mountaineers then close the regular season against Northern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 6. The Senior Day matchup will now begin at 6 p.m., an hour earlier than originally scheduled.
LAST TIME OUT: AT BOWLING GREEN
West Virginia is coming off a 2-0 loss at Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon at Cochrane Stadium. The Mountaineers allowed two goals in the final 20 minutes, as the Falcons scored in the 71st and 77th minutes. BGSU’s second goal came on a penalty kick.
WVU recorded 12 shots in the match, four on goal. BGSU had 16 shots, with seven on net. Sophomore Jad Arslan had two of WVU’s shots on goal, while sophomore Joey Piatczyc and senior Haydon Bennett each had one.
SENIOR CLASS AWARD FINALIST
Senior Jamie Merriam has been named a finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. He is one of 10 men’s soccer student-athletes to be honored for excelling both on and off the field. Student-athletes are recognized for their achievements in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition.
Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winners. Fans are encouraged to vote on the SeniorClassAward.com through Nov. 23. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches’ votes to determine the winner. Fans can vote once a day on each device. More information on Merriam being named a finalist can be found on WVUsports.com.
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