Meet the 2018 Zips Men's Soccer Recruiting Class with Head Coach Jared Embick

Hey Zips Fans, 

Recruiting class announcements are an exciting part of any collegiate sports fans year. This year proved to live up to the hype as the Akron Zips Men's Soccer team announced 10(ten!) new recruits for the 2018-19 campaign. Today, we here at Just a Blog From Akron (with the help of our friend, Akron Men's Soccer Head Coach Jared Embick!) will introduce you to that recruiting class!

twitter @zipscoachembick

Sam Tojaga - Defensive Midfielder - Erie, PA

What we know:

• Cleveland Internationals Academy Product
• Real Salt Lake U-19 - Reached championship bracket in Generation Adidas Cup
• Attended camps at Penn State and Louisville
• #112 Recruit - College Soccer News Rankings
• Shows versatility: has played central attacking and central defensive midfield

JE: He is a defensive midfielder. Brings size at 6'2" and balance to our team. Very smart player who reads the game well and can distribute the ball well. His work rate, intensity and passion for the game is what caught my eye first, then as i watched him more closely I saw he does a lot of the little things and dirty work for his teammates. He knows who to get the ball to and how to protect his teammates. I expect him to be one that comes in and competes right away for a midfield position. I think he is one that could really develop as he gains strength and grows into his body more.

Carlo Rittacio - twitter @carlorittacio

Carlo Ritaccio - Centerback - Westbury, NJ

What we know:

• 63rd Ranked 2018 Recruit
• #1 2018 Prospect in New York State
• BW Gottschee Academy Product 

JE: He is a hard nosed defender, very tough marker and in the tackle, communicates well and has a great personality. His communication and leadership on the field really stood out. He is a talented player that has been with the U-17 national team. With us losing 3 starters in the back half I was looking for toughness and personality to go along with talent and he fits both of those categories. I expect him to be in the mix right away to gain significant time and I am counting on his communication to really help this team gel quickly.

ZN: What is it about the New Jersey / New York region that creates these great players? Adam Najem, Bryan Gallego, etc. Lots of talent from that area.

JE: I think with the New York, New Jersey, Long Island players you get personality and confidence to go with work rate. All of our guys were tough kids that worked hard but were some of the personalities of the team. We have had a lot of success in that area finding players that fit in well with Akron and we will continue to look there.

Daniel Oliveira - Defender - Lisbon, Portugal

What we know:

• Sporting CP Academy 
• 3 Time team captain
• Championship experience
• International Tourney experience

JE: He is a quick, attacking fullback. He has great skills on the ball and is a very clever passer. Our fullbacks a lot of the times are key to how we build and also our ability to free up our wide players. He is one we feel can do that at a high level. His ability on the ball and quickness drew me to him. Like all of our players we want competition for spots and he is one we feel can play right away but with internationals there is more to it. How will they adjust to America and being away from home? We are hoping he has a quick adjustment period like our other Portuguese players have.

ZN: One of two players from Portugal, Any similarities between him and Moutinho?

JE: He is from a different academy but is in another high level academy in Portugal. Joao actually recommended him to us.

Diogo Pacheco - Winger / Forward - Lisbon, Portugal

What we know: 

• GS Lorces
• F.C. Alverca Academy
• Has helped capture a U-19 Vice Championship

JE: He is a playmaker. Likes to take players on 1 versus 1 and create in the final third. He can play outside or he can do damage in between the lines. His attacking play drew me to him.  Has versatility in attack and can play multiple positions well. He was always dangerous in the games we have seen. He is one that we hope can replace some of the scoring we lost with our seniors.

Ivan Nikolic - @SigmaFC Twitter

Ivan Nikolic - Forward - Toronto, ON

What we know:

• Sigma FC product
• Proven Scorer
• Serbian National team experience
• Red Star Belgrade experience
• Top Goal Scorer all 4 seasons at Silverthorn Collegiate Institute
• Watch this highlight video via Sigma FC 

JE: He is an intelligent forward that links up very well with his teammates and has great movement off the ball. What drew me to him was his determination, work rate and his maturity in his game. Always made plays in the box and really understands how to play up top. He can fit in as a 9 or as an attacking mid. We really will count on his link up play and his hard determined runs in the final third.

ZN: He's a Sigma FC product. If I remember correctly, a few other Zips came through that program as well, correct?  

JE: We have few Sigma players. It is a great club that plays similar to us. It is a great club for us to find players.

Marco Milanese - Centerback - Isernia Italy

What we know:

• Played for Isernia in the Eccelenza league
• Team captain for Italian U-15 and U-17 squads
• Played for Napoli U-17's

JE: Marco is a left sided center back. He likes to start attacks and is a very good passer. He is also extremely focused. I was drawn to his passing and pedigree. He has played at a high level of youth soccer in Italy with a team that likes to build out of the back. He gives us a left footed CB that can start attacks. He will compete for the spots we lost in the back. We will look at him at LCB and he will be a player that can start our attacks.

Cristian Gennaro - Attacking Midfielder - Biella, Italy

What we know:

• Played for Orizzonti United, Fulgor Valdengo and Citta di Cossato
• Known for his incredible touch

JE: He is a final third player. Very creative, great runs off the ball, good vision and very good finishing. Another player that can play in between the lines and in tight spaces. He's a creative player and a goalscorer. He can play attacking mid, second striker, or as an inside winger. He gives us flexibility in attack but mostly he's someone who is an unpredictable and relentless attacking player.

ZN: Lots of big club academies on his resume, how valuable is that experience?  

JE: I think when you play for big academies you understand the daily competition and struggle for playing time. To succeed in those academies you have to have talent but also a level of confidence. 

Nick McCausland - Defender - Akron OH

What we know:

• Played at Green High School and Internationals Academy.
• All-Ohio as a junior
• Twice all district and all conference.
• Member of a national runner up Futsal Squad

JE: I think he is one that we like because he is just starting to come into his own. He has quickness and is ultra competitive and we feel has great potential to be another one of our successful defenders from Northeast Ohio. His competitive fire drew us to him. Cant have enough of those guys that love to compete and that get better when in a competitive environment. His competitive fire gets me excited about how he can develop at Akron. He is one that i think we will look to play anywhere on the back line. I think he made need a bit of time to mature some more physically. He can be a really good player.

Colin Biros - Twitter @B_biros

Colin Biros - Winger / Forward / Midfield - Canton, OH

What we know:

• Ranked 55 Nationally in 2018 by topdrawersoccer
• 20th Ranked midfielder in the country
• Crew SC academy

JE: He is a fiery competitor. Great player in between the lines and final third. He has great service on set plays and great vision. I just love his combination of skill and competitiveness. He is not afraid and wants to win badly, I feel like he will be one of those players that just wills us to victories at times with his competitiveness and talent. I expect him to come in and compete at left wing or attacking mid. He has a great opportunity to play right away and help us. He is very good cutting in from the left and combining and creating plays.

Dion Akhigbe - Winger / Forward - Copley, OH

What we know:

• Ohio Youth Soccer Association North
• Undefeated Season and Division 1 Midwest Regional League Champion in 2013-14
• Led Copley to a suburban league championship in 2015

JE: He is a winger with quickness and skill to open up the game. He is still a bit raw but he has improved quite a bit over this last year and think he will do very well in our environment. Pace and quickness drew us to him. we need players to open up the game for us and he does that. I think we need to continue to refine his game a bit. He is an exciting player in the future!

As always, it was excellent hearing from Coach Embick and its easy to see that Zips Men's soccer fans have tons to look forward to with the class of 2018!

Tyler Warner
Class of 2015
tylerwarnercable@gmail.com
@t_w_93