International Soccer Network

"Your Source for the Beautiful Game"

Category Archives: University of Akron Women’s Soccer

Great Start to Spring for Akron Women

The University of Akron women’s soccer team won two games of the spring schedule on Sunday against Youngstown State University and West Virginia Wesleyan in the Stiles Athletics Field House.

Akron played West Virginia Wesleyan in the first match, which resulted in a 5-0 victory. UA registered five unanswered goals in the match against West Virginia Wesleyan, with five different Akron players scoring goals in the first game on Sunday.

Karina Atkinson, Kelly DeNiro, Holly Ohradzansky, Hannah Werth and Amber Kern all registered one goal a piece in Sunday’s contest vs. West Virginia Wesleyan. Kern’s goal was off a penalty shot.

The Zips completed their second shutout win of the day against the Youngstown State Penguins, as the match ended in a 1-0 score in favor of the Zips. Megan Waskowski scored the lone goal for Akron in the second game on Sunday.

Akron’s next game on the spring schedule will be at home on Wednesday, April 3, against Cleveland State University. The game will be played at 7 p.m., on Schrank Field, and is open to the public free of charge.

Also, the last date on the home spring schedule will be Saturday, April 20, which has two games scheduled. The first match will be an Alumni vs. Alumni game that will start at 10 a.m., and the second match will be St. Francis vs. Akron at 5 p.m. These games will be played at First Energy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

2013 Spring Schedule

Sun., March 17 vs. West Virginia Wesleyan – W, 5-0

Sun., March 17 vs. Youngstown State University – W, 1-0

Wed., April 3 vs. Cleveland State University – 7 p.m.

Sat., April 13 at Duquesne University

Sun., April 14 at Robert Morris University

Sat., April 20 vs. St. Francis – 5 p.m.

Akron Women’s Soccer Spring Schedule Kicks Off Sunday

The University of Akron women’s soccer team will host Youngstown State University and West Virginia Wesleyan this Sunday on Schrank Field to kick off the spring schedule.

The first game on Sunday will be at 12:30 p.m., and will feature Youngstown State and West Virginia Wesleyan. Akron will play consecutive games at 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., beginning against West Virginia Wesleyan in the first game and Youngstown in the second.

Sunday’s games for Akron will be the first and second games played of the spring schedule. In total, UA will play six games this spring, with four of the matches being played at home. The original spring schedule opener was scheduled for March 2 vs. Cleveland State, and was postponed due to weather for Wednesday, April 3.

Akron comes into the weekend’s slate of games after posting a 6-11-1 overall record in 2012 with a 2-8-1 record within the Mid-American Conference. The highest returning point scorer for Akron is junior Kelly DeNiro, whom registered five goals and four assists in the 2012 season.

Youngstown State owned an overall record of 8-9, last season, while West Virginia Wesleyan was an overall 12-6-3 in the 2012 season. Akron did not matchup with either Youngstown State or West Virginia Wesleyan in 2012. Akron holds a 4-0 regular season record against Youngstown State, last meeting in 2008 in a 3-2 win for Akron. Akron has never faced West Virginia Wesleyan in a regular season contest.

All matches this Sunday at Schrank Field are available to the public and are free of charge.

Also, the last date on the home spring schedule will be Saturday, April 20, which has two games scheduled. The first match will be an Alumni vs. Alumni game that will start at 10 a.m., and the second match will be St. Francis vs. Akron at 5 p.m. These games will be played at First Energy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

2013 Spring Schedule

Sun., March 17 vs. West Virginia Wesleyan – 2 p.m.

Sun., March 17 vs. Youngstown State University – 3:30 p.m.

Wed., April 3 vs. Cleveland State University – 7 p.m.

Sat., April 13 at Duquesne University

Sun., April 14 at Robert Morris University

Sat., April 20 vs. St. Francis – 5 p.m.

ISN Stars of Coaching Presented by Korrio – February 2013

One thing is for certain. The University of Akron is known for soccer. Caleb Porter helped put the Zips on the soccer map, but the women’s program is now the program on the rise.

The program experienced an encouraging 2012 fall season that showed progress on all fronts, including setting the program record for attendance on September 28th.

But the biggest reason for optimism is a strong coaching staff, led by head coach Vernon Croft and assistant Keri Sarver.

Many regard Sarver as one of the best young coaches in the country. Croft agrees.

“Keri is one of the finest young female coaches in the game, not just our state or region but in the country.  Her experience at the Women’s National Team level coupled with her professional playing experience has been a big asset to our players and staff in the continued development of our program.”

Sarver’s journey back to Northeastern Ohio has been just that, a journey.

“I moved back here to be a youth coach. I wanted to do that to be connected to the soccer community where I grew up, in order to give back to the game that had given me so much to me. To be able to take that to the next level in college is just another wonderful opportunity and blessing I have been given.  To do it right here in my backyard is icing on the cake.”

She has gotten the job done as a player, going from Jackson High School in Massillon, Ohio to the University of Maryland to a career as a pro in the WUSA. Sarver is arguably the best female soccer player to ever come out of the Buckeye State. She certainly is one of the most decorated players, claiming honors as a Parade All-American, a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick, an All-American selection, Maryland’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year, the ACC’s James Weaver-Corrigan Award, and being chosen for the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team.

To top it off, Sarver was also part of the U.S. Women’s National Team pool.  Her list of accolades and honors is impressive and intimidating at the same time.

She is also known as a record-breaker, holding school records in every offensive category in both high school and college. It would be no surprise that Sarver would play for three pro teams before playing and coaching in the USL’s W-League.

The coaching side of her career blossomed with the Cleveland Internationals, an organization with offerings at every level. She has been the Director of Coaching there since 2008. Her teams have claimed championships at every level, from state championships to national titles. Sarver has also helped over 100 players follow their dreams of collegiate soccer.

“The club has been in the area for the 35 years. The core leadership has been in place since the beginning. It is a club with a great history and culture.  I am just trying to take it one quite step further. By being a player that has been in the environment and gone on to play at a high level and being able to come back and share those experiences.”

Now she is helping develop collegiate players for the next step: professional soccer here and abroad. Who better to help them? A highly decorated former pro sounds like the ticket to me.

It took only a short time to see results as two Zips headed to Germany to turn pro after finishing their careers at Akron.  Jordan Clark and Kara Cooper are both playing with Karlsruhe SC, a Bundesliga team in SW Germany.  And both credit Sarver and Croft for helping them get there.

The news means a great deal to the program as a whole.

“There is something else out there.  They can continue their love and passion and continue their growth in the game.”

Sarver herself is bullish on the women’s game as a whole and is particularly excited about the NWSL.

“The one major improvement in the business model is that U.S. Soccer is subsidizing the salaries of the players in the national team pool.  Women’s soccer in this country is such a good product. It is just a matter of continuing to develop that product and get the fans to buy in and support it.”

Just because America was one of the first pioneers in the women’s game worldwide doesn’t mean there isn’t massive competition today and in the future.

“The rest of the world has caught up; we still have the edge physically and psychologically.  The women’s game is growing so fast around the world that it is forcing us to take another look at it from a developmental perspective.”

Developing tactically and technically is just one piece of the puzzle since players need someone to look up to, to aspire to be.  As a youth moving up the ranks, Sarver was inspired by American greats like Michele Akers and April Heinrichs.

“Those two were my role models and were instrumental in fostering my love for the game.  Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe are good, strong personalities that are quality role models that kids today can to look up to.  They actually play with a lot of flair, which is exciting for young players to see.”

The women’s national team is a powerhouse in the here and now, but many pundits are worried about the future.  One area of concern is the lack of an academy run and funded by USSF.  But Sarver thinks there is something effective already in place.

She believes the ECNL is a solid alternative to creating a separate developmental academy for girls and women like U.S. Soccer has done for the other gender.  The ECNL shares the same focus: quality training and professional environments over quantity of games.  These happen to be the same values exhibited by Claudio Reyna’s coaching curriculum and the USSFDA system.

One thing is for certain, Sarver is a great coach and a great advocate for the women’s game.  With her help, the beautiful game here in NE Ohio and across the country will reach unprecedented heights.

Simply put, the game is in good hands with people like Keri Sarver.

Korrio understands it is your passion for coaching kids that drives you. We also know that the less time you spend dealing with administrative, communication and automation hassles, and the more time you spend on the field, the happier you’ll be. And because you play a crucial role in our children’s lives, we want you spending as much time as possible coaching our kids. Korrio offers a modern approach to coaching by allowing new ways to communicate and develop a community on and off the field. Congratulations to the ISN Star of Coaching this month.

AFC Cleveland’s Hoggarth is now a Zip

The University of Akron women’s soccer program announced the hiring of Andrew Hoggarth to Assistant Coach on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

“We are excited after an exhausting search that Andy chose to accept our offer to be a part of our staff and program.  His experience as a goalkeeper, goalkeeping coach, head coach at the collegiate level, and head coach at the professional level will bring numerous ideas and insights of the game to help our staff become better and most importantly help our players become better,” Head Coach Vernon Croft said of the hiring.

Croft continued, “Andy will fit in extremely well with our staff, and will do a great job filling the recruiting coordinator position while also taking the direction of the goalkeepers, as well an assistant in other aspects on and off the field.”

Hoggarth comes to the Zips after serving six years as head soccer coach at Thiel College from 2007-12. Hoggarth was instrumental in the recruitment and retention of student-athletes, which resulted in increased roster size, GPA, and winning percentage for both the men’s and women’s soccer programs.

Along with head coaching duties, Hoggarth sat as co-chair to the Physical Education department at Thiel College. One of his main duties was to be the chair of the coaching minor within the P.E. department.

Prior to Thiel College, Hoggarth was an associate head coach at Shenandoah University, where he also earned his Master’s in Education. Goalkeeper development and coaching was a main aspect to the position as well.

Hoggarth had also worked with Middlebrough Football Club from 2003-05 as a Health Promoter and Goalkeeper Development Officer. One of his main responsibilities in that position was to communicate the healthy lifestyle offered by soccer, and to develop and implement goalkeeper academy programs.

Before pursuing a career in coaching, he spent time as goalkeeper for several youth academies and semi-professional teams with the culmination of winning the FA Vase in 2001 with Whitley Bay FC. He has also spent time recently in 2012 as head coach of AFC Cleveland, which turned in a 6-7-2 record in his first season at the helm.

Hoggarth received his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies from Nothumbria University in Newcastle, England. He has also earned an Advanced National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches of America.

Hoggarth will remain the head coach for AFC Cleveland, which plays in the NPSL during the summer months.

Women’s Soccer Alumni in Germany

Two former members of the University of Akron women’s soccer program have found success in their post-collegiate careers in the professional ranks, as they begin their first year in professional soccer in Germany.

Jordan Clark and Kara Cooper were teammates on the Zips soccer team in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Clark joined the Akron roster as a freshman in 2007, while Cooper transferred into Akron in 2010. Clark and Cooper were able to be teammates in 2010 and 2011 due to a knee injury sustained by Clark, which forced her to redshirt her 2008 season.

“Each of these fine young women came into the program under Coach Pfau as aspiring young recruits hoping to make an impact on a Division I program.  They grew and developed tremendously over their four years under his tutelage which helped prepare them for this opportunity at the next level,” Head Coach Vernon Croft said.

Croft continued, “I was fortunate enough to spend more time with Jordan over the past year to help develop her tactical thinking from the standpoint of a coach and to talk about some of the transitions mentally from one level to the next.”

A mark on the Akron women’s soccer record book was left when Clark finished her career as a Zip. She holds the record for most career match appearances with 76, while starting in 67 of those appearances. Clark also ranks in the top-10 in UA women’s soccer history in career goals, assists, and points.

In 2011, Clark was named a second team All-Mid American Conference (MAC) selection, as she led the team with four assists. She also earned Academic All-MAC honors in the 2011 season.

“I’ve made so many great memories through my years at Akron including breaking conference records for our program and competing against some of the bigger names in the country,” Clark said reflecting on her time at UA. “However, I would have to say that my most memorable moment as a Zip was probably defeating The University of Michigan on their home field to start off the season.”

Cooper transferred to Akron from Youngstown State University, where she played her sophomore and junior seasons. In 2010, Cooper started 12 matches and appeared in 15 overall matches. She was depended upon a lot on defense, as she stayed on the pitch for the entirety of eight matches that season.

The 2011 season was just as fruitful for Cooper. She started 14 matches, and appeared in 18 matches overall. She registered her first career goal with the Zips with her lone shot of the season against Ball State on Oct. 7, 2011.

“Akron taught me and gave me the tools to succeed both on and off the field … it’s part of the reason why I am where I am today,” Cooper said when asked about her time at the University of Akron.

Cooper also echoed Clark’s sentiment towards the victory over the University of Michigan in 2011. When asked about her favorite moment as a Zip, Cooper said, “Beating Michigan my senior year; it was such a great game.”

Karlsruhe Sport Club in Karlsruher, Germany is now the home to the former Zips. Clark and Cooper have only been in Germany for a few weeks at this point, and they are enjoying every minute of her experience. The only issue they have come across thus far is the language barrier, which they are trying to learn. However, the pair says, “Many of our teammates are interested in improving their English, so it actually works out that they teach us some German and we help them with their English. We have a good time with it.”

The biggest difference Clark and Cooper have noticed from their transition to the professional lever is the speed and style of play that is utilized on the field. They also mentioned the transition from being a student-athlete to full-time athlete. Clark says she had to change her mindset from college, and put all her focus into the sport. Cooper is enjoying being away from the stress that comes from college courses, and solely focusing on becoming a better soccer player.

“Jordan and Kara have both been very passionate about putting themselves in a p osition to play at the pro level from the moment their careers finished at Akron.  This mentality has somewhat prepared them for the next level, but also the training environments they have been in during their time at Akron have prepared them to not only transition from the college game to the pro level, but to find immediate success with their new club.  The new experience coupled with their talents and past experiences will certainly allow them to make a mark in the league,” said Croft.

Clark credited Head Coach Vernon Croft and Assistant Coach Keri Sarver with her development as a player and a person. She is also thankful for her former coach Chris Pfau, and the entire support staff within the University of Akron athletics department. According to Clark, her family has been her biggest support system. She said, “Without the support from my amazing mother, grandparents, sister and fiancee I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today.”

Head Coach Croft and Assistant Coach Sarver helped Clark develop an expansive mental strength. She says about her mental strength, “This has allowed me to grow as a person as well as improve my game as a player.”

Cooper also credited the coaching staff with her development as a player. She says, “The coaching staff helped develop me into a versatile player. Because of that I am able to play an array of positions, which makes me more marketable as a player.  [Former Head Coach] Chris Pfau took a striker and made a defender out of me.”

When asked if there was anyone she credited for her success, she said, “…the journey that I am on is nothing short of a miracle with two knee surgeries and transferring colleges. I have had so much support from my family and friends that it would be too hard to name everyone. I am so grateful for where I am today. So blessed, it brings tears to my eyes.”

The two teammates are extremely excited to begin their professional careers. They have already had several games along with a tournament. Clark performed exceptionally in the tournament, as she was named MVP of the tournament.

Jordan Clark and Kara Cooper are passionate about their craft on the playing field, and are working hard to improve their own play, while also improving the overall team performance for Karlsruhe SC. Their success on the professional level brings great pride to both the University of Akron women’s soccer program and the Akron athletics department as a whole.

Karlsruhe SC is a member of the Bundesliga in German professional soccer. The club is located Karlsruher, Germany, which is located in southwest Germany near the French border with a population of over 297,000 people.