Story Courtesy of Akron Sports Information
AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron men's soccer junior David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) and sophomore Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) were among those honored when TopDrawerSoccer.com unveiled its Preseason Best XI Squads on Tuesday (Aug. 27).
Egbo, a 2019 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List nominee, was tabbed a first-team honoree, while Ritaccio, the 2018 TopDrawerSoccer.com National Freshman of the Year, was recognized as a third-team selection.
A first-team All-Mid-American Conference performer for the initial time in 2018, Egbo, recorded a trio of multi-goal performances on the campaign en route to ranking fifth in the NCAA in game-winning goals (6), 10th in total goals (13), 11th in total points (31), 32nd in goals per contest (0.57) and 45th in points per game (1.35).
Egbo saved his best performances of the season for postseason play recording his third multi-goal effort of the season to lift Akron to a 3-1 victory past Rider in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. He followed with assists on Abdi Mohamed's tally in a 3-1 triumph over No. 20 Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and on Marcel Zajac's game-winner in a 1-0 win at top-seeded Wake Forest in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. He culminated his scoring efforts with a goal in a 5-1 victory over No. 4 Michigan State in the semifinals of the 2019 College Cup.
Egbo was honored by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its National Team of the Week on five occasions, while also being recognized by College Soccer News. He led the MAC in goals (13) and points (31), while ranking second in goals per game (0.57) and shots (61), third in points (1.35) and shots per contest (2.21) and 10th in assists (5).
A 2018 Second-Team All-MAC performer, Ritaccio, started all 22 matches in which he appeared for the Zips at his center back position, helping anchor a Zips' defensive unit that posted eight shutouts this past season, while contributing a trio of goals on the strength of nine shots, including four on goal.
Ritaccio was tabbed as the National Freshman of the Year by TopDrawerSoccer.com, while also earning TopDrawerSoccer.com Freshmen Best XI First-Team accolades.
Akron returns seven starters in 2019, including 2018 All-Mid-American Conference performers, senior Skye Harter(Copley, Ohio), Egbo and sophomores Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) and Ritaccio from a squad that captured the MAC Tournament title en route to advancing to title match of the College Cup for the fourth time in program history on the strength of an overall record of 15-7-2.
Egbo, Ritaccio and the rest of the second-rated Zips open their 2019 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30, as Akron travels to face Xavier in a 7 p.m. tilt.
