The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
St. Bonaventure
Trio of Zips Score as Women's Soccer Routs St. Bonaventure, 3-1
September 05 | Women's Soccer
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AKRON, Ohio - Despite an early second half deficit, the University of Akron women's soccer team scored three straight goals against St. Bonaventure on Friday to claim victory, 3-1.
While the Bonnies outshot the Zips 6-3 in the first half, a majority of the action happened in the middle third of the field as the struggle for possession went on for nearly the entire half.
St. Bonaventure (2-3) came out swinging in the second, as Lauren Hill took a cross in the middle of the box from Jennifer Morris and netted it to give the Bonnies a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute.
It didn't take long for Akron (2-3) to answer, as junior Hannah Werth booted a laser shot from the top right side of the box beyond the reach of St. Bonaventure goalie Beth Moore and scored the equalizer for the Zips in the 65th minute.
"I was just looking to aim low and back post," Werth noted after the match.
With four corner kicks and an abundance of opportunities early on by way of crosses from freshman Loreana Lonigro, Akron finally connected on one in the 73rd minute. Fading down the right sideline with possession, Lonigro relayed the ball to the top of the box where freshman Amy Dean turned and nailed the go-ahead goal for the Zips from long range.
Both Werth and Dean scored their first goals of the 2014. Werth scored the only other goal of her college career in 2012 against VCU while Dean, playing in only her second game of 2014, scored the first of her career.
UA wasn't finished just yet, as the team took three more shots in the next four minutes and would connect once more in the 86th minute. Sophomore Sarah Sivic, who scored the Zips lone goal this past week in a 3-1 loss at Cleveland State, headed a ball in the box off of a long pass from the right side by Lonigro that bounced pass Moore for the third Akron goal of the match.
"Our kids have a great mentality right now," head coach Vernon Croft said. "There's a massive difference between tonight and Tuesday night when we gave up the goal to Cleveland State, we kind of quit. Tonight, we kept after it."
The Zips last three-goal match came against North Dakota last August in a matching 3-1 victory in which junior Megan Waskowski netted a hat trick for Akron. The last time three individuals scored in a single match for the Zips was back in August of 2012 when Akron took down Morehead State, 3-2. Waskowski had the first of three Zips goals in that contest.
"To score three goals in a game is fabulous for our kids," Croft added. "This is an incredible group of young women right now and they are very committed to each other. That has a lot to do with anybody who steps on the field to be successful."
Lonigro tallied her second and third assists of the season and her career, as she also took three of the four UA corner kicks in the second half.
Senior Alex Luevano-Harden made four saves in goal, playing all 90 minutes for Akron.
The Zips take back to the road next weekend as they travel to New England to take on Boston U. (Sept. 12) and Bryant (Sept. 14). They return back to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field for their final non-conference matchup of the regular season on Fri., Sept. 19 when they host Youngstown State.
