“The Zips’ men’s soccer team is the University of Akron’s best-kept secret. In 2005, the team was the first Mid-American Conference team to be named No. 1 in the nation. After a disappointing 2006 season in which the team did not make the NCAA tournament, the Zips are back in the Soccertimes.”
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The Zips’ men’s soccer team is the University of Akron’s best-kept secret.

In 2005, the team was the first Mid-American Conference team to be named No. 1 in the nation.

After a disappointing 2006 season in which the team did not make the NCAA tournament, the Zips are back in the Soccertimes.com national rankings.

It’s an honor, head coach Caleb Porter said. It’s much deserved credit for our team.

But as big of an honor as it is for Porter and his team to be ranked, he isn’t looking into it too much.

It’s something we can’t control, he said. We are focused on what we can control and don’t want to lose sight on what we’re trying to do here.

What the team is trying to do is win the MAC Championship, and contend for the NCAA National Championship. Porter has instilled an attitude in his team to not lose sight of their goals.

The Zips are ranked No. 18 in the nation in the collegesoccernews.com poll, in a season in which the team lost to No. 1 Wake Forest (3-1) and tied No. 25 Ohio State (1-1).

The Zips have a three-game winning streak following the tie with Ohio State but Porter believes the key to the season came much earlier.

The Wake Forest match on Sept. 7 was the turning point of the season for the Zips.

We went toe-to-toe with the No. 1 team in the nation, Porter said. We found out some things in these games and we’re taking it one step at a time.

Every game makes us stronger but you learn more a lot about your players when you play elite national teams, Porter said.

Junior goalkeeper Evan Bush has been an integral part of the Zips’ success in 2007.

Bush became the UA career record holder in shutouts Sept. 29 against UNC-Greensboro when the Zips won 2-0.

Since the UNC-Greensboro match, Bush has recorded two more shutouts against Wright State (3-0) and Hartwick (2-0).

Porter has high praise for his goalkeeper and believes Bush is by far one of the best in the nation.

He’s a great shot-stopper, he said. An outstanding player who can make tough saves look easy.

Bush has 21 saves in 2007 and a .724 saves-per-game average.

Though Bush has been an important part of the team, Porter has been pleased with the team as a whole, offensively and defensively.

Bush often doesn’t have much to do, Porter said. The team is so sound defensively and our offense continues to find ways to score so he doesn’t always get the credit he deserves.

Porter said his team takes each game one at a time and no game is more important than the next.

The Zips host MAC opponent Northern Illinois at Lee Jackson field Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

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