As the men’s soccer team prepares to take on Michigan, Akron’s team has an interesting role surrounding the outlook of the game.

Last season the Michigan Wolverines soccer team beat the Falcons handily 5-1. Earlier this season, Akron — the country’s consensus No. 1 team — got past the Falcons 2-0, after being scoreless for nearly 70 minutes. Akron also beat the Wolverines in stunning fashion, 7-1.

When the Falcons arrive in Ann Arbor tonight for a 7 p.m. kickoff, what do these previous results show?

“Really nothing,” said Falcon head coach Eric Nichols. “What I do know is that Michigan has one of the best attacks in the country.”

Nichols is referring to Justin Meram, who scored a hat trick against the Falcons last year. If that weren’t enough, Matt Schmitt, a fifth year senior, is racking up goals left and right as well.

The Falcons counter with a team that is talented and disciplined, on occasion. Against top-ranked Akron and nationally-ranked Michigan State, the Falcons either led or were tied for 151 of 180 minutes.

However, against another talented team, Butler, the Falcons let in goals often, going down 5-0. In order to upset a Wolverine team set on making it into the NCAA tournament, the Falcons must find consistency both in the offensive and defensive third.

“We are anxious to get out there and give it a go. It has been a while since we played,” Nichols said.

The Falcons last game was a narrow 2-1 loss to the Spartans of Michigan State, being beaten by a free kick in the last 10 minutes after having lead for a large portion of the match.

“We think we did well for the majority of the game against Michigan State,” Nichols said. “We were upset not to be able to close that game out.”

Although playing away two seasons in a row to any team is less desirable than the standard home and homes we are used to, Nichols and the team see this visit to Michigan as a new experience, as Michigan has just opened a $6 million soccer stadium, said to be one of the finest venues in the country.

The Falcons (5-6-2) have already outplayed last year’s team, and will now look to do what the 2009 Falcons soccer team and the 2010 football team failed to do: win in (or around) the “Big House.”