No. 1 Akron faces No. 2 Tulsa in a can't-miss college showdown

AkronZipsLogoTulsaLogo


Admit it, you don't watch much college soccer and your past experiences with it haven't been the best.

Tonight's match betwee No. 1 ranked Akron and No. 2 ranked Tulsa (8pm, Fox Soccer Channel) just might change that perception.

Boasting what may be one of the most talented teams in college soccer history, the unbeaten Zips enter tonight's match unscored upon and featuring a dangerous attack loaded with pro prospects. They face their toughest test to date though, taking on a Tulsa side that can score goals in bunches and has the experience of pushing Akron to the brink on two occasions last year.

"We know they're going to come at us and they aren't going to sit back and keep numbers behind the ball like some other teams do against us," said Akron head coach Caleb Porter. "We admire the way they play and we're looking forward to that challenge."

The match will feature several of the nation's best players, and as many as a dozen MLS current and future MLS prospects could be on the field tonight.

So why watch tonight's match? You can expect both teams to attack, and Tulsa isn't going to be afraid to go after Akron's defense with standout forwards Austin Neil and Ashley McInnes. Akron's back-line has been stellar all season and has yet to allow a goal this season.

As good as Akron has been defensively, it is the Zips attack that really makes the difference. Led by top pro prospect Darlington Nagbe up top, creators Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Michael Nanchoff in midfield and Kofi Sarkodie and Zarek Valentin working the flanks as attacking fullbacks, Akron can come at you from any number of directions. Tulsa's defense, led by Justin ! Chavez, will have its hands full tonight.

"Both teams are going to look to attack, but we can't just let it become a wide-open match," Porter said. "We need to be able to control the tempo of the match and finish our chances.

"Both teams will have chances, we just need to be able to put ours away and not give them confidence toward the end of the match because they're capable of making things real tough."

Tonight's match is the latest in a series of tough tests for Akron, which opened the season by beating highly-ranked ACC foes North Carolina and Wake Forest. The Zips have outscored their opponents 11-0 this season, but their toughest test awaits today against a Tulsa attack that has scored 18 goals in six matches.

----------

If you will be watching tonight's match, please feel free share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section of this post.

Enjoy the action.



English & European Football Clubs & Leagues News | Video | Commentary

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Hottest Tour de France 2010 Podium Girls

Image
The annual Tour de France is among the most grueling races in all of sports. But every summer, hundreds of cyclists brave the plains, the mountains, the sun and the rain of France (and often the surrounding countries) to complete the 3,500-plus kilometer trek. But why? Fame? Sure, names like Lance Armstrong, Greg LeMond and defending champion Alberto Contador will go down in the annals of cycling history. Money? Certainly, the winners make some dough from winning and from the sponsorship deals that can result. The challenge of it all? No doubt, there are some competitors just looking to see where they rank among the top athletes in the sport. But there's another reason to race. If you win, you get to stand on the podium with some of the world's most beautiful women. Whether they're delivering handshakes, kisses or the radiant yellow jersey , these ladies serve as serious motivation t...
Keep reading

The 25 Hottest NFL Cheerleaders

Image
No matter what the situation, you can bet that there will be some sexy ladies on the sidelines cheering them on, just as they have been all season. Cheerleaders are a wonderful part of the game, but it's hard to see all of them during brief appearances during games, and it's way too time consuming to check all of them out online. That's why you have me. I personally looked through each cheerleader in the National Football League and picked out the hottest ones. So for your viewing enjoyment, here are the 25 Hottest NFL Cheerleaders. No. 25: Chiefs—Suzie Kansas City has it rough in professional sports. The Royals are the biggest punchline in baseball and the Chiefs have bombed what looks to be a promising season. KC is lo...
Keep reading

The 30 Hottest WAGs in Major League Baseball

Image
Baseball is finally back! With the Yankees and Red Sox kicking things off Sunday night, America's pastime is officially back in session. That means another year of home runs and diving catches. It also means another year to check out the finest talent baseball has to offer off the field. With Derek Jeter locked down and engaged to Minka Kelly, what other MLB players will step up as the playboys of the MLB? And what team is the most stacked with six different WAGs on this list? (Hint: It's not the Yankees) So step up to the plate. WAGs may not be as American as apple pie, but they sure are just as tasty. No. 30: Misty Mae Treanor—Matt Treanor (Rangers) It can't be easy when your wife is hotter than you, more famous, and also better at sports, but somehow Matt Trean...
Keep reading