Pirates Host Akron in Massive BIG EAST Battle Under the Lights

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Seton Hall men's soccer (5-2-5, 2-0-2 BIG EAST) will continue its strong run in conference play when the Akron Zips (8-3-2, 2-2-0 BIG EAST) visit Owen T. Carroll field on Friday in a high-stakes conference matchup. Match time is scheduled for 6:56 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

LAST TIME OUT

Continuing their run through BIG EAST play, the Pirates visited the Higgins Soccer Complex to take on the Villanova Wildcats last Saturday.
The Pirates struck first in the 40th minute when Sam Bjork laced a ball through layers of the Wildcats' defense to put The Hall up 1-0. Villanova would counter minutes later to tie the game at 1-1 heading into halftime.
As the rain intensified in the second half, both sides had their chances as the momentum of the game shifted like the winds circling the field. However, neither team broke the tie, ending the match in a 1-1 draw.

SCOUTING AKRON

Akron is 8-3-2 on the season, with a 2-2-0 record in BIG EAST play after winning 3-2 in the final minutes last week against DePaul.
- They faced two other East Division teams this year, losing to both St. John's 2-1 and UConn (3-1) at home.
The Zips entered the season picked to win the BIG EAST Midwest Division with 65 points and ten first-place votes, tied with Georgetown for the most in the conference.
Despite their strong non-conference slate, including wins or draws against West Virginia, Ohio State, Saint Louis and Cornell, the Zips have struggled in conference play this season.
- With seven goals allowed in conference play, there are only two teams, DePaul (10) and Villanova (8), who have allowed more goals than them.
- Their six goals scored gives the team a -1 goal differential in that same span, which ranks seventh in the conference. That is despite the team logging the third most shots (62) in the conference.
Offensively, the Zips are led by the attacking duo of Jack Roman and Stefan Dobrijevic. Roman leads the team and sits fourth in the conference with five goals scored and ninth in shots per game (2.31) Dobrijevic, on the other hand, leads the conference in assists (7) while sitting sixth in the conference in shots per game (2.69)
In net for Akron is Mitch Budler, who has collected a multitude of accolades for his performances over the last two seasons. Budler, who last season was named Third-Team United Soccer Coaches All-America, First Team All-BIG EAST and BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team and Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year ahead of the 2025 season.
- So far this season, Budler has started all 13 matches and allowed eight total goals for a 0.62 GAA, 0.784 save percentage, nine shutouts and an 8-3-2 record overall.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be the 3rd all-time matchup against Akron.
The Pirates hold a 0-2-0 record against the Wildcats, but they have never played in South Orange.
Last time these two teams met in 2023, the then No. 5 Akron Zips defeated the Pirates 2-0 at Akron.