University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Take On Akron In NCAA Third Round
11/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
UCONN CONTINUES QUEST FOR CUP WITH THIRD ROUND GAME VS. AKRON
• The eighth-seeded and fourth-ranked UConn Huskies will face Akron in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 1:00 p.m. in Joseph J. Morrone Stadium. The Zips defeated West Virginia, 5-0, on Wednesday to advance to the third round.
• UConn (16-3-1) secured its 11th appearance in the third round by defeating Stony Brook, 2-0, in the second round on Tuesday.
• UConn has faced eight teams in this year’s tournament field during the 2005 regular season, posting a record of 7-1-1.
• Up Next: The winner of today’s game will go on to face the winner of St. John’s at top-seeded Maryland in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament. The Red Storm and Terps are also set to contend at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OPPONENT
Akron (18-1-2)
• This is Akron’s 21st overall appearance in the tournament and the second trip to the round of 16 in the last three years. The Zips have never advanced past the third round.
• Akron’s 16-0-1 start was the best in school history. It remained undefeated through Nov. 3 when the team fell to then-No. 5 Indiana, 1-0, in overtime.
• The Zips held the No. 1 spot in all four major college soccer polls for four weeks this season.
• The Zips have allowed eight goals thus far in 2005 for the lowest total in the NCAA. UConn has given up nine.
• Akron, as the No. 9 seed, is seeded for just the second time in school history. In 2003, the Zips were the No. 15 seed, defeating Rutgers in the second round before falling to Maryland in the third round.
• In addition to leading the nation in goal against average (0.37), the Zips lead the nation in scoring with 2.97 goals per game.
• MAC Player of the Year Ross McKenzie leads Akron with 16 goals and eight assists. Sinisa Ubiparipovic is second in both categories with 14 goals and seven assists. Both players are ranked in the top 15 in the nation in scoring.
• Akron is 6-1-1 on the road this season.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
• Sunday’s game pits the two best defenses in the NCAA against each other.
• Akron is first with a 0.39 goals against average, while the Huskies are just a step behind with a 0.47 average. In shutout percentage, UConn trails the Zips by just two-hundredths of a percent, with 0.68 and 0.70 marks, respectively.
UCONN’S NOVEMBER REIGN
• The Huskies are making their 26th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and hold a 28-21-4 record all-time with National Championships coming in 1981 and 2000.
• Head Coach Ray is making his eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in nine years at the helm of UConn. He is 13-5-1 in the tournament with one National Championship and one College Cup semifinal appearance to his credit.
• The Huskies have a 11-game NCAA Tourney win streak at Morrone Stadium. They are 11-1 in the NCAA Tourney at Morrone Stadium under Head Coach Ray Reid, with the last loss coming in 1998 to Penn State (1-0).
• UConn is 21-11-3 all-time at home and 3-9-1 on the road during tournament action.
· Nine of UConn’s starters have playing experience in the NCAA Tournament prior to this season.
• The Huskies are one of three BIG EAST teams to play in the third round of tourney action. St. John’s will take on Maryland, while Notre Dame and Clemson face off. The BIG EAST placed a record seven teams in the tournament, with six advancing to the second round of play.
FLASHBACK: ROUND TWO ACTION - UConn vs. Stony Brook -
STORRS, Conn. (November 23, 2005)
• Kevin Burns (Greenfield, Ind.) and O’Brian White (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada) each scored as the fourth-ranked and eighth-seeded University of Connecticut men’s soccer team defeated Stony Brook, 2-0, in second round of NCAA Tournament action at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium Wednesday.
• UConn’s offense was steadfast from the opening whistle, putting up 10 shots in the first half and 12 in the second, while the defense stifled the Seawolves counterattack to account for a 22-3 shot advantage and a 7-2 corner kick margin.
• Wednesday’s game marked the 13th shutout for the Huskies, moving this year’s team into third place in the school record books for season shutouts and elevating goalkeeper Adam Schuerman’s (Brookfield, Ind.) ever-growing record to 38 scoreless career games.
