The University of Akron men’s soccer team finished its season with a record of 13-6-3 after losing to number four seed Indiana on Sunday, 1-0, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Despite a great showing against Villanova on Friday in the first round where the Zips won 2-0 off two Nick Hinds’ goals, the team wasn’t able to get that equalizing goal against Indiana. Both goalkeepers (Akron’s Ben Lundt and Indiana’s Christian Lomeli) made three saves in the game, and the Hoosiers’ Billy McConnell scored the deciding goal.

Although it was a heartbreaking defeat, the Zips still have much to be proud of this season. They won the Mid-American Conference for the fifth straight season and beat bigger schools like Ohio State, Oregon State, and Michigan.

Sadly, Sunday’s game marked the final outing for five Zips players. Those include Danilo Radjen, Goncalo Soares, captain Brad Ruhaak, captain Adam Najem, and redshirt-junior Tyler Sanda. Those five are the first in school history to win the MAC championship all four years they played.

The Zips have much to look forward to next season. Akron will return eight different starters, including the two leading goal scorers of this past season, Stuart Holthusen and Nick Hinds. Not to mention all of the young talent that will be coming up as well as the recruits the Zips decide to welcome into the program next year. Whoever is here playing next year will continue the tradition of excellence The University of Akron soccer program has established.