Top-Seeded Zips to Begin Title Run Today vs. South Florida

In fact, South Florida is the last opponent to defeat Akron on its home field. Since that game two years ago, the Zips are undefeated in their last 23 matches (22-0-1).

The Last Time Vs. South Florida
A goal by South Florida's Yohance Marshall two minutes into the second overtime lifted the Bulls to a 1-0 victory over the 14th-seeded Zips in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship at Lee Jackson Field in the two teams' last meeting.

The lone goal of the match came off a free kick. Simon Schoendorf sent the ball towards the net and Akron goalkeeper Evan Bush punched the ball out. Amidst several UA defenders, Marshall was able to use his body to sneak the ball into the lower left side of the goal. It marked Marshall's second goal of the season and second game-winner in overtime during the NCAA Championship.

Akron lost despite controlling the action most of the match. The Zips took 17 shots compared to eight by the Bulls. Ten of UA's shots were on goal with USF having just four on goal, including the game winner. Leading the way for the Zips was Steve Zakuani, who had five shots with four being on goal. Schoendorf had two shots for the Bulls, including two on goal.

Scouting the Bulls
South Florida (14-3-3, 6-3-2 BIG EAST), which is ranked 16th in latest NSCAA/adidas poll and 15th by Soccer America, made its way into the "Field of 48" as an at-large selection out of the BIG EAST Conference and advanced to the second round after coming from behind to defeat Stetson, 2-1, Thursday night in Tampa. The Bulls scored two unanswered goals after the Hatters jumped out on top just seven minutes into the game. Sebastien Thuriere (13th minute) and Bernardo Anor (43rd minute) found the net for USF in the win.

On the year, Thuriere (six goals, three assists) and Hasani Sinclair (5-5) are tied for first in scoring, while Anor (6-1) and Javed Mohammed (1-11) are each tied for third with 13 points. Jeff Attinella, the Bulls mainstay between the pipes, has played in every minute of the season this year - a total of 1,873:25 - and has recorded 98 saves and seven shutouts. He also has posted a 0.77 goals against average and a .860 save percentage.

This year's NCAA Tournament marks USF's 14th appearance in the postseason event. Through Thursday night's game against Stetson, the Bulls are 11-11-2 all-time in the NCAA tournament, however are 6-2-1 in the event since 2005 under head coach George Kiefer. USF advanced to the Elite Eight last year and the Sweet 16 during the 2007 season.

Zips Best Bulls in Exhibition
While Akron and South Florida have never met during the regular season, UA defeated USF, 3-1, at Lee Jackson Field during the preseason this year.

After a tentative start by both teams, UA took control about 10 minutes into the contest. In a four-minute time span, the Zips fired off three shots - two by sophomore Teal Bunbury that sailed high and a header by Darlington Nagbe that went wide off a perfectly-placed cross from Kofi Sarkodie - but were denied each time. But the momentum of the game had clearly shifted into UA's favor.

Bunbury was especially active in the early going and finished with four shots overall.

Not to be denied, the Zips kept the pressure on and Nagbe put UA on top, 1-0, in the 21st minute. Following a free kick, Nagbe corralled a loose ball in the center of the box and sent it past the keeper from 12 yards out. Nagbe matched Bunbury with a team-high four shots on the night.

USF pulled even in the 32nd minute when Felipe Libreros pushed the ball past true freshman goalkeeper David Meves after a fine cross from Bernardo Anor.

UA wasted little time regaining the lead. Sarkodie, who also recevied praise from Porter following the game, lofted a perfectly-placed ball from mid-field that found Nagbe, who was streaking towards the goal. USF had little recourse but to foul the speedy sophomore in the box and Blair Gavin made the Bulls pay by connecting on the subsequent penalty kick to give the Zips a 2-1 lead at the intermission.

Akron didn't relinquish its intensity in the second stanza, out-shooting USF 9-2, and rolled to the victory. Third-year sophomore Michael Nanchoff, who was a medical redshirt in 2008, provided the final margin of the game in the 88th minute with a goal from six yards out that was assisted by Bunbury.
The Zips outshot the Bulls 16-3, including an 8-1 edge on shots on goal.

Akron Awarded Highest Seed in School History
Fueled by the fourth longest, single-season win streak in NCAA history, the Zips will begin their quest for a national championship as the top-seed among the 48-team field.

As the No. 1 seed, Akron received a first-round bye and the right to host up to three games through the quarterfinal round. It is the highest seed ever obtained by an Akron team and the fifth time overall the men's soccer team has been seeded. The Zips were the nation's No. 15 seed in 2003, the No. 9 seed in 2005, the No. 14 seed in 2007 and the No. 5 seed in 2008.

The 2009 College Cup will be held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., on December 11th and 13th and will feature the semifinal and championship rounds.

Zips in the NCAA Tournament
• This is the 24th time an Akron team has qualified for the NCAA postseason dating back to the 1961 season.

• The Zips have now qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons under fourth-year head coach Caleb Porter. UA has earned first-round byes each year and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in program history in 2008.

• UA made its deepest postseason run in 1986 when it advanced all to way to the championship game but was defeated by Duke, 1-0.

• Akron is 10-23-2 (.314) all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

Chasing History
• The Zips are currently riding the fourth longest, single-season win streak in NCAA history with 20 wins in as many games this year.

Indiana set the standard in 1997 with 23 straight games without a loss or a tie. Coincidentally, current UA head coach Caleb Porter was a midfielder on that Hoosier team that eventually lost in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

• Akron is also aiming to become the first team in 35 years to win a national championship with a perfect record. Howard was the last to do it (19-0-0 in 1974) and is one of just six teams to ever accomplish the feat.

• The Zips enter the NCAA Tournament with a goals-against-average of 0.35 with just seven goals allowed all season. This mark is on line to break the program's GAA record of 0.45 set last year.

• Along those lines, true freshman goalkeeper David Meves enters play with a GAA of 0.36, which would top the current record of 0.46, set by Evan Bush in 2008.

• With one more shutout, the Zips will match another school record. Akron recorded 15 shutouts in 2005 to set the program standard.

• With 11 assists in 18 games this season, midfielder Michael Nanchoff is tied for seventh on the school's single-season charts. Michael Apple and Allen Eller share the program's high mark with 15 assists in 1998.

Bunbury Chasing Scoring Title
Sophomore striker Teal Bunbury enters Sunday's match tied with Adelphi's Issa Tall for the nation's lead with 16 goals scored in 2009. Furthermore, Bunbury will likely have to beat out just one player - Northwestern's Matt Eliason - for the scoring title as all others ranked in the top ten have been eliminated from postseason play. Eliason enters the second round of the tournament with 13 goals.

If Bunbury were to win the title, it would be the second straight year the national scoring leader has come from Akron. MLS No. 1 overall draft pick Steve Zakuani led all scorers with 20 goals and 47 points in 2008.