The University of Akron Athletics
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Western Michigan
Zips Soccer Ties Defending MAC Champion Western Michigan, 0-0
October 16 | Women's Soccer
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Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Akron women's soccer team fought admirably both offensively and defensively against the defending Mid-American Conference Champion Western Michigan as the Zips and Broncos play to a double-overtime 0-0 draw on Sunday afternoon.
"Our performance today on the road against a quality opponent was absolutely admirable. We played very well and couldn't have asked anymore from the players," said head coach Noreen Herlihy. "Offensively we got behind their defense but just couldn't capitalize on the opportunities. But we were able to post back-to-back clean sheets defensively on the road against two impressive teams, and we will take the result.
For the Zips, the offense totaled eight shots by five different Akron players. Sophomore Shea O'Brien (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) led the Zips efforts with a trio of shots, followed by sophomore Rachel Baughman (Alliance, Ohio) with two, and senior Sarah Sivic (Broadview Heights, Ohio), Karin Norman (Stocksund, Sweden), and freshman Amy Rogozinski (Westlake, Ohio) with one shot each, respectively.
Redshirt freshman Samara Yurchak (Leola, Pa.) boasted her first collegiate clean sheet after she received her first starting assignment of her career against the Broncos. In 110 minutes of action, Yurchak made nine saves with three of those saves coming in the second overtime period.
Akron began the contest aggressively in their offensive end of the field with a pair of shots in the initial five minutes of the match. Baughman ripped a shot at the 3:04 mark but the ball sailed wide of the goal. The forward registered a second shot in the fifth minute but again went wide of frame.
O'Brien attempted to get the Zips on the scoreboard in the 35th minute but her shot went high of the cross bar.
After the first 45 minutes of play, the Zips tallied three shots, three saves, and three corner kicks.
Norman posted Akron's first shot in the second half but the ball would sail wide.
The Zips made a late push in the contest offensively with a pair of shots on goal in the final four minutes of the game. Rogozinski attempted a shot from distance after the Broncos were called for a foul but the WMU keeper was there for the save. After a second foul on the Broncos, Sivic stepped up to the ball and ripped a shot on goal of the restart, but her shot was again turned away.
Akron and Western Michigan headed into overtime after a scoreless 90 minutes of play.
O'Brien tallied a pair of shots during the overtime periods. A WMU defender blocked her first shot in the initial overtime period, while her second shot went wide of goal.
The Zips return home to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field next weekend to close out the home portion of the 2016 season. Akron will host Central Michigan on Oct. 20, before playing Eastern Michigan on Oct. 23.
