The University as an Engine for Economic Growth - The University of ...
The University as an Engine for Economic Growth - The University of ...
The University as an Engine for Economic Growth - The University of ...
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Athletic Success<br />
UA Men’s Soccer: NCAA Champions At L<strong>as</strong>t!<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2010 men’s soccer team made it a December to remember<br />
by capturing UA’s first-ever team national championship with<br />
a 1-0 win over Louisville Dec. 12 in the 2010 NCAA College Cup<br />
in S<strong>an</strong>ta Barbara, Calif.<br />
Akron returned to the national championship game <strong>for</strong> the<br />
second consecutive year, vowing to reverse the 2009 College<br />
Cup’s heartbreaking loss in a shootout. Akron broke a scoreless<br />
tie in the 79th minute with a goal by Scott Caldwell. Anthony<br />
Ampaipitakwong provided service from the left side <strong>of</strong>f a corner<br />
kick. Caldwell received the ball <strong>an</strong>d volleyed a shot that w<strong>as</strong><br />
deflected <strong>of</strong>f a wall <strong>of</strong> defenders. But the sophomore collected<br />
the rebound <strong>an</strong>d sent the ball into the upper right-h<strong>an</strong>d corner<br />
<strong>of</strong> the net from 15 yards out <strong>for</strong> the score.<br />
But that’s when real drama beg<strong>an</strong>. Louisville, playing in its first<br />
national title contest, threw everything it had at UA with<br />
a barrage <strong>of</strong> shots in the final 1:30 <strong>of</strong> the game. UA defender<br />
Chad Barson blocked a point-bl<strong>an</strong>k shot <strong>an</strong>d Zips’ goalkeeper<br />
David Meves stood strong <strong>as</strong> the final seconds ticked away <strong>an</strong>d<br />
the celebration beg<strong>an</strong>. <strong>The</strong> “underdog” Zips closed out their<br />
historic se<strong>as</strong>on with a 22-1-2 record, while tournament top-seed<br />
Louisville suffered its only loss <strong>of</strong> the year, finishing 20-1-3.<br />
<strong>The</strong> men’s soccer team made history in J<strong>an</strong>uary at the 2011<br />
Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft <strong>as</strong> seven members <strong>of</strong><br />
the national champion squad were selected. UA l<strong>an</strong>ded five <strong>of</strong><br />
the first eight picks <strong>of</strong> the draft to set <strong>an</strong> MLS record <strong>for</strong> most<br />
first-round selections from a single school.<br />
Moreover, with seven draftees on the day, Akron set <strong>an</strong>other<br />
milestone <strong>for</strong> most selections by a team. UA head coach Caleb<br />
Porter <strong>an</strong>d his staff have now produced 12 MLS draft picks in<br />
the l<strong>as</strong>t four se<strong>as</strong>ons, including eight players taken in the top 10.<br />
Drafted in 2011 were: Darlington Nagbe, Perry Kitchen, <br />
Zarek Valentin, K<strong>of</strong>i Sarkodie, Michael N<strong>an</strong>ch<strong>of</strong>f, Chris Korb<br />
<strong>an</strong>d Anthony Ampaipitakwong.<br />
It w<strong>as</strong> <strong>an</strong>nounced in October 2011 that Porter had been named<br />
the head coach <strong>of</strong> the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team<br />
to compete <strong>for</strong> a spot in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.<br />
He also will continue his role <strong>as</strong> head coach <strong>of</strong> the Zips.<br />
Launching<br />
Success<br />
36 2010 - 2011 Report to the Community
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