The UConn men’s soccer team has its biggest matchup of the season on Friday, Sept. 19, as they travel to Akron, Ohio, to battle the No. 10-ranked Akron Zips. The Zips enter the battle with the Huskies with a record of 5-1-1, boasting a big win over #16 Ohio State 2-0 on the road. They also forced a draw versus No. 8 West Virginia.
The Huskies will look to stay perfect on the year, as they will try and grab a big upset win. Their record sits at 5-0-3, with a notable draw to the UMass Minutemen. The Huskies have been scoring efficiently, as they have averaged just under 2 goals per game. However, they might need to get that number up in order to beat Akron. Nevertheless, UConn has really looked great on defense this year as they hold opponents to half a goal per game and a big part of that is goalkeeper Kyle Durham. The redshirt freshman has 35 saves so far this season with a .897 save percentage to keep opponents at bay. Coach Chris Gbandi will also lean on Alex Tupay and Johan Hamel, along with Durham to give him a full 90 minutes of playing time in a pivotal primetime game.
Akron will look to lean on its high-powered offense that has gotten hot as of late. The team is led by Jack Roman and Stefan Dobrijevic, who both have tallied seven points during the season so far. Dobrijevic also leads the team in assists at three. The Zips’ goalie is also worth mentioning, as Mitch Budler has only let up one goal this season. Budler will surely be a hard challenge for the Huskies’ offense, thoug, Balthazar Saunders and Austin Brummett will surely give him a test as they lead UConn in shots on goal and points.
Another big factor in this game will be the team that scores first, as both goalies are great. If UConn is able to get off to a great start, they will have a very good chance to win this one on the road.
If the Huskies can pull off the upset against the Zips, there is a chance that they could be considered for a top-25 spot as they get into Big East league play. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on the road under the lights in Akron, Ohio.