"Rob on the Road" is a new series chronicling our Managing Editor's two-week soccer journey. Check back each day for updates, videos, and pictures from his travels. Want to know where his obsession with soccer started? Find out here. 

As statements go, Akron made a loud one Tuesday night.

A 7-1 win over Big 10 opponent Michigan just happened to on a day when the Zips’ program was hosting Rob on the Road, as head coach Caleb Porter showed me all around the school, soccer facilities and gave us unprecedented access to the team’s activities before, during and after the match.

We’ve got tons of video to show for it, but you just have to take your hat off to Porter for his work in building such a top-rate program and for selling it so well. He has recruited very well over the past few years and this is why the Zips are once again doing so well – their players are that good.

{mosvideo:300}Tuesday they were in rare form, holding the ball for long stretches and attacking in numbers early and often. Right back Kofi Sarkodie had a monster game, scoring a hat trick that began with a 10th minute strike. Darren Mattocks, Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Darlington Nagbe and Thomas Schmitt added a single tally each. Michigan had two players sent off in the final 20 minutes, after the score was already 4-1.

Akron improves to 12-0-1 while Michigan, which got a goal from Soony Saad on a 1st half free kick, falls to 8-4-3.

So check out the video taken today. We’ve got a look at the Akron facilities, some insight from the crazies known as AK Rowdies, a little flavor from the match including a vicious red card, and some post-match comments.

Tomorrow I’ll be heading east. Check  the web site again to find out how far.

Want to know why Rob set out on this adventure? He tells us!