The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Northern Illinois
Sivic's last-second PK lifts Women's Soccer over Northern Illinois, 1-0
October 12 | Women's Soccer
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AKRON, Ohio -- Sarah Sivic's penalty kick with seven seconds remaining in regulation was the deciding factor for Akron in a gutsy 1-0 victory over Northern Illinois Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
Sivic took the PK for the Zips after Northern was called for a foul near the top of the box in the 90th minute, following a corner kick from Karin Norman. The ball bounced around among a host of players from both teams, as the Zips tried to finish the corner and the Huskies tried to clear it and force overtime.
As the dust cleared the whistle was blown on NIU, and Sivic found the back of the net with just seven ticks left on the clock. All 11 Huskies lined up across midfield in an attempt to supply the equalizer in the final seconds, but ran out of time. Sivic's goal was her third of the season.
With the result, UA improves to 6-7-1 overall and 2-4-0 in the Mid-American Conference. Northern Illinois, previously unbeaten in league play and atop the MAC West standings, moves to 5-7-2 overall and 3-1-2 in the conference. Akron snapped a five-match unbeaten streak for the Huskies.
Klaire Adee played all 90 minutes and had three saves for the Zips in goal, recording her second shutout of the year. Sivic was the first player to score on NIU goalkeeper Amy Annala in 362 minutes.
Aside from the PK, Akron posted three other shots on goal for the match, all from Lani Smith. The senior's best chance to score came in the 17th minute when she challenged Annala one-on-one at the top of the box, chipping it past the keeper but it was wide just right of the goal.
Defensively, the Zips did well to hold off Northern for the day, allowing six shots, only three of which were on goal. NIU earned five corner kicks, including four in the first half, and it threatened to score off one in the 40th minute. Gwen Sabo put the ball in play for the Huskies, and a header from Haley Cummings hit off the crossbar and went straight down, but Adee was there to protect the net.
Akron returns to the field next weekend when it hits the road for the first time this month. The Zips will travel to Toledo to take on the Rockets on Friday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m., then head on to Central Michigan. UA and CMU will face off on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m.
