The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Soccer Uses Strong Second Half to Top Ball State
October 18 | Women's Soccer
- The University of Akron women's soccer team notched three second half goals to secure a 3-0 victory over Ball State in Mid-American Conference play on Sunday on Senior Day at Lee Jackson Field. Akron (6-6-2, 4-3-1 MAC) won its third-straight game and posted its fourth victory in five outings, while Ball State (4-11-0, 2-6-0 MAC) dropped its fifth-consecutive match.
Akron's first two goals of the day came from the foot of sophomore Rachel Phillip and within quick succession. The first, and eventual gamewinner, came at 59:32 during a free kick sequence. Phillip found the net as she finished a ball that had rebounded from senior Britni Back. Junior Alysia Virkler took the initial kick and was credited with an assist, along with Back.
Phillip's second score of the day, and team-leading fifth of the season, came at 62:31. An unassisted strike, she sent in the ball from the left side of the box and into the right side netting. She now leads the squad with 12 points (five goals and two assists) and also has two game-winning scores to her credit this season.
"Rachel has played really well for us all season," Akron head coach Chris Pfau said. "She has had some unlucky opportunities, but has really matured as a player this year and over the last several games has been really focused. That focus paid off today."
Junior Andrea Schweisthal gave UA another insurance goal at 72:25, off another free kick chance. Schweisthal scored the first goal of her collegiate career after she controlled a kick sent in by junior Kyra Petrole.
Akron outshot Ball State 17-13, for its second-highest shot output of the season (18 versus Eastern Michigan on Sept. 25), and 12 of the Zips' shots came after halftime. UA also had eight shots on goal compared to four by BSU, and the Zips took a season-high 10 corner kicks in comparison to six by the Cardinals. Akron's three goals scored was also a season high, as it had three two-goal victories to its credit entering Sunday.
The Zips called on the services of two goalkeepers, with senior Katie Davis playing in the first half and sophomore Jeny Wolbert taking over in the second. Davis had one save and Wolbert made two stops. The UA defense was credited with a team save during the first half, when senior Heather Rains headed away a Ball State shot on goal after Davis was drawn away from the net by the Cardinals' offense.
With the exception of goalkeeper Michelle Smith (injured), Pfau inserted his senior class into the starting lineup, with Back, Davis, Rains, Kate Ferrara, Kristen Gregg, Adrienne Knox, and Sarah Richardson all being honored in a special pregame ceremony.
"I'm proud of this year's senior class," Pfau said. "This was a great senior weekend, with two wins. We have talked a lot with this class about making the program better than it was when they came in as freshmen, and they can most definitely say that have achieved that. They have all worked very hard and have been key to our success the last two years."
With three regular-season matches remaining, the Zips' pair of wins this weekend helped them take a big step toward securing their first-ever berth in the conference tournament, which gets underway on Nov. 1 at campus sites. Only the top-eight teams in the standings qualify. The UA program is in its ninth season as a varsity sport.
Two of UA's final three games of the season are on the road, competing at Buffalo on Oct. 23 and at neighborhood rival Kent State on Oct. 25. The Zips close the season at home on Oct. 29 versus Ohio.
