The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Bryant
Eck and George lead Zips to 4-0 season-opening victory
August 21 | Women's Soccer
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AKRON, Ohio – Sophomore Raechel Eck (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and senior Katie George (Middleburg Heights, Ohio) each scored their first two collegiate goals to lead the charge for the Akron Zips in a 4-0 women's soccer victory over the Bryant Bulldogs Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
Ten minutes into the game freshman Rachel Baughman (Alliance, Ohio) crossed a pass into the box that deflected off a defender and was rounded up by Eck. Eck composed herself, got off a shot that was deflected by a diving goalie Kaylan Conrad. The ball was loose inside the box and Eck found herself wide open connecting for the first goal of her career.
In the final 35 minutes of the first half, the Zips got off five more shots with one on goal that was saved by Conrad.
Baughman got behind the defense in the 67' (66:20) and was 1v1 with the goalie from the top of the box. Baughman dribbled the ball in and as the keeper came out to make a play, Baughman chipped the ball over the goalies' head, unfortunately, the ball was just high and rattled off the crossbar before being cleared.
One minute later (67:55), George intercepted a pass from the defense just inside the box. She sent a shot past the keeper in the lower left side of the net to tally her first career goal.
Another three minutes had past and in the 72' minute George found herself celebrating her second goal of the night at the 71:34 mark. Junior Karin Norman (Stocksund, Sweden) sent a shot from inside the box that was saved by the keeper, George was able to regain possession off of the deflection and find the back of the net.
Baughman and Eck connected on another play to continue Akron's success and put the game out of reach at 4-0 with 19 minutes to play in the 75th minute (74:13). Baughman fed the ball through the corner of the box to Eck who struck the ball from 12 yards away for her second goal of the night.
Baughman started in her first collegiate game and recorded her first two college assists.
Eck posted three shots on the night followed by George and senior Hannah Werth (Bloomington, Minn.) with two.
Goalies Annabelle Hegeman (Frostburg, Md.) and Klaire Adee (Rockford, Ill.) combined to shut out the Bulldogs. Hegeman started the game in the net and Adee subbed in at the 81:10 mark.
In total the Zips out shot the Bulldogs on the night 14 to five, including seven to one on goal.
The 4-0 win was the first win for Noreen Herlihy as the head coach of the Akron Zips program.
Akron is now 11-2-2 in home opening matches since the program began in 2001.
The Zips return to action traveling to battle Niagara on Friday, Aug. 28.
