The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Soccer Visits Ohio Thursday
October 27 | Women's Soccer
The University of Akron women's soccer team will play its regular season finale Thursday afternoon, traveling to Ohio for a 3:00 p.m. match.
Match Coverage: Live Stats
Playoff Picture: The Zips have surged down the season's finishing stretch, moving up the table and into second place in the MAC East with 13 points. Akron sit just one point behind division leading Miami. OU sits in third with 12 points.
The Zips have clinched a spot in the MAC Tournament and an Akron win Thursday teamed with a Miami loss or tie to Bowling Green would give the Zips their second straight MAC East crown and the number two seed in the MAC Tournament. The Zips can also win the East with a tie against the Bobcats and a loss by Miami.
If Miami holds on to first place in the East it would receive the number two seed and Akron would take the seven or eight seed, depending on the outcome of Thursday's match. A win or tie keeps the Zips above OU, while a loss moves Ohio into seventh and drops UA into the eight seed.
Zoning in on the Zips: Akron has found its form of late - going 3-0-1 in its last four matches - to move into second place in the MAC East with a conference mark of 4-5-1. UA is 6-10-1 overall, with Rachel Phillip, Katie Wise, and Leigh Cullen leading a balanced scoring attack with four goals each. Jordan Baranowski and Jordan Clark have each recorded three scores, while Kelly DeNiro has contributed a team-best five assists.
In goal, senior Michelle Smith recorded her first shutout in a Zip uniform in the win over Buffalo on Sunday after transferring from Austin Peay two seasons ago. Smith currently holds a 0.92 goals against average.
Scouting the Bobcats: Ohio is 3-4-3 in MAC play and is 6-7-4 overall after splitting a pair of matches against Buffalo and Kent State over the weekend. Seven Bobcats have scored two goals with Rachel Philpot's three tallies leading the team. Mattie Liston has been the only goalie used by OU this season and has a GAA of 1.04. The Zips won last year's matchup by a scoreline of 1-0 at Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field.
Crunch Time Clark: Junior midfielder had an excellent pair of matches in the wins over Kent State and Buffalo last weekend. Clark scored the opener in the win over Kent State and recorded a pair of goals in the win over Buffalo. Clark was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week for her effort.
Pouring it On: Akron recent success on the pitch has coincided with an outpouring of offense. UA has averaged 2.25 goals per match in its recent four game unbeaten run (3-0-1).
A Helping Hand: After tallying assists in four of the last five matches, freshman Kelly DeNiro now has five helpers on the season. That places her in a tie for first on the season assists record list. Sarah Artuso dished out five assists in 2002 to set the record.
Jordan Baranowski's 10 career assists place her one of the career mark set by Jeannie Stuckey from 2001-03.
Scoring in Bunches: Four current Zips have
moved their way into the top ten career scoring list at UA.
1. 49 Jeannie Stuckey (19g, 11a)
3. 29 Rachel
Phillip (12g, 5a)
6. 24 Jordan
Baranowski (7g, 10a)
10. 15 Beth Riggs (5g, 5a)
10. 15 Leigh
Cullen (6g, 3a)
10. 15 Jordan
Clark (6g, 3a)
The Game Winner: With two game-winning strikes this season, Jordan Baranowski has moved into a tie for the most career game-winners by a Zip with six. Jeannie Stuckey also recorded six game-winners in her career that stretched from 2001-03.
Next Up: The Zips will play the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament on Sunday with the opponent and location to be determined by the results of Thursday's MAC matches.
