The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Toledo
One Final Road Trip Awaits Zips In Toledo and Bowling Green
October 12 | Women's Soccer
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Match Notes (PDF)
Akron (1-11-2, 0-5-1Â MAC) vs. Toledo (6-5-3, 3-1-2 MAC)
Friday, Oct. 13
Toledo, Ohio. • 4 p.m.Â
Live Stats:Â GoZips.com
Akron (1-11-2, 0-5-1Â MAC) vs. Bowling Green (8-5-0, 3-3-0Â MAC)
Sunday, Oct. 15
Bowling Green, Ohio • 1 p.m.
Live Stats:Â GoZips.com
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Whats Ahead
The Akron Zips travel to northwest Ohio for a pair of contests against, Toledo and East Division foe Bowling Green in another weekend of Mid-American Conference action. On Friday, Oct. 13, Akron takes on the Rockets at Scott Park for matinee match at 4 p.m., before heading down to Cochrane Stadium for an afternoon affair versus the Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 1 p.m.
Scouting the RocketsÂ
Toledo currently sits in third place in the West Division standings with a league record of 3-1-2 after three weekends of conference play. If the MAC tournament were to start today, the Rockets would earn the fourth seed in the postseason tournament. Overall, the Rockets have amassed a 6-5-3 record through 14 contests.Â
UT has tallied 17 goals on the season, with Hannah Scafaria pacing the offense with eight goals of her own, totaling 17 points. Within the league, Scafaria is tied for second in goals, rated third in goals per game (0.57), points, and points per contest (1.21), while nationally ranking 38th in goals. Pairing with Scafaria are teammates Isa Echeverri and Sophie Pohl, who have combined to score five times for UT on 50 shots. The trio of Rockets have also posted 12 shots on goal each (36). As a squad, Toledo holds the advantage over its opponents in shot on goal percentage (.496-to-.477) and shot percentage (.136-to-.098).Â
Madison Perrin has made all 14 starts in the net for the Rockets compiling 1,338 minutes of action as the last line of defense. In 2017, Perrin has posted a 1.28 goals against average, .793 save percentage, made 73 saves, allowed 17 goals, and garnered five shutouts. In the MAC, the Rockets' goaltender ranks first in saves, second in saves per game (5.21), third in clean sheets and shutouts per game (0.36), sixth in save percentage, and seventh in GAA. In the NCAA, Perrin is rated 24th in minutes played, tied for 31st in total saves, and 54th in shutouts.Â
Scouting the Falcons
In 2016, Bowling Green finished just outside of the field of the top eight teams in the league that moved on to postseason play. To date in 2017 however, the Falcons sit seventh overall in the league standings with a MAC record of 3-3-0, while owning an overall record of 8-5-0.Â
The high-powered Bowling Green offense has tallied a MAC-best 85 points through 13 matches, which is also rated 33rd-best in the nation. The Falcons are a top-three team in each offensive category in MAC, including first in points, goals (27), goals per game (2.08), assists (31), assists per contest (2.38), and second in shots (215). BGSU has seen 11 players score a goal on the year, including six players who have collected multiple goals on the season. Skyler Fleak has tallied a team-high eights goals, four assists, 20 points, 41 shots, 23 shots on goal, and three game-winning tallies. Erica Hubert who leads the team in shots, 51, has been successful with five of her shots finding the back of the net and 23 of her shots have been on goal.Â
Victoria Cope has seen 1,031 minutes of action in the net for the Falcons. In 12 games, Cope has posted a stat line of 15 goals allowed, a 1.31 goals against average, 35 saves, a .700 save percentage, and a pair of shutouts. Â
Series History
Toledo and Akron have faced off 16 times in program history since 2001, with the Rockets owning the all-time series 12-2-2 but, the Zips have earned a result in the last two meetings with a 2-1 win in 2015 and a 1-1 double-overtime draw in 2016.Â
The Falcons have had recent success against the Zips winning the last four encounters and hold a 10-5-1 advantage all-time in the series history.Â
Coaches
Toledo: TJ Buckholz is in the midst of his third season as the head coach of the Toledo women's soccer team. In his two and a half seasons, Buckholz has earned a 33-27-4 record and led the Rockets to a postseason berth in 2015.Â
Bowling Green: Matt Fannon was named the head coach of the Falcons program in December 2016. In his first season at the helm of the squad, Fannon has led BGSU to an 8-5-0 record. Prior to BG, Fannon compiled a 40-26-10 overall record at Wittenberg University in four years.Â
Akron: Noreen Herlihy is in her third season on the sidelines as the head coach of The University of Akron's women's soccer program. She owns an 11-35-8 record leading the Zips since taking over the program. In her first year in charge of the program, Herlihy and her staff led the 2015 Akron Zips to the Mid-American Conference tournament for the first time since 2009 and advanced to the semi-final round for the initial time in program history.Â
2017 Zips Tidbits
- Akron predicted to place fifth in the MAC East in the 2017 preseason poll
- Eight freshmen earned their first career start in the Zips 2017 season opener; Amani Jiu, Abigail Brown, Erin Babcock, Annamarie Alfery, Angela Boyce, Ryley Watt, Rylie Howman, Ally Brown
- Amani Jiu notched her first career clean sheet against Milwaukee, 0-0, and her first career victory with a 3-0 shutout over Green Bay.Â
- Erin Babcock notched her first career goal and first game-winning goal against Green Bay with a header off a corner kick.Â
- Eliese LaCourt tallied her first collegiate assist against Milwaukee and scored her first career goal against Loyola.Â
- Rachel Baughman and Catie Corrigan each scored their first goal of the 2017 campaign against Green Bay with each tallying their second career goal.Â
- Erica Schrader assist to Babcock against Green Bay off a corner kick was the juniors first of the season and second career assist.Â
- Akron has been called for two yellow cards in 2017Â
- Ashley Amato made her first start of the season after returning from a preseason injury. In her first start, the sophomore quickly impacted the game scoring her first two goals of the season and her first multi-goal game of her career.Â
- Akron needs two wins to reach the 100-win milestone in program history.Â
Where They Rank In The MAC
- Ashley Amato ranks fourth in the conference in shots per game (3.44), eighth goals per contest (0.43), and 10th in shots (31).Â
- Erica Schrader is tied for 10th in assists (3).Â
- In the net, Amani Jiu rated third in the conference in saves (69), rated seventh in saves per game (4.93), tied for seventh in shutouts (2), and ninth in shutouts per game (0.18).Â
Where they rank in the Program
- Erica Schrader's three assists in the season are tied for 10th on the single-season list
- Amani Jiu's 69 saves are the seventh-most saves in an Akron keeper's career and the eighth-most saves in a single-season.Â
Fountain of Youth
The Zips welcomed in 13 freshmen to the 2017 roster. Akron is tied for the second largest incoming class in the nation with 13. Only New Mexico State has a larger freshman class with 15 freshmen.Â
Seeing double
Freshmen Abigail and Ally Brown (Batavia, Ohio) are the first pair of twin sisters to play together in an Akron uniform. The sisters play on opposite ends of the field, Ally, a forward, and Abigail, a defender, have used their experience playing together to help make an impact on the field for the Zips.Â
Jiu Earns First MAC Defensive Player of the week
Freshman goalkeeper Amani Jiu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was named the first Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the 2017 season, on Aug. 21.
In the opening weekend of play, Jiu (pronounced Joo) helped Akron women's soccer to an undefeated 1-0-1 record. Earning the starting goalkeeper position, the true freshman recorded a shutout and nine saves in the double-overtime 0-0 draw against defending Horizon League champion Milwaukee in her first career start.
Two days later, Jiu defended the goal against Green Bay, helping the Zips to a 3-0 victory. UA held the Phoenix scoreless through 90 minutes of play, giving Jiu her first collegiate victory and her second straight shutout to start her career.
The back-to-back clean sheets in the opening weekend of play are the first consecutive shutouts to start the season by an Akron goalie since 2006, and just the third in program history.
Zips Help Raise Awareness With Inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness Soccer Tournament
The University of Akron women's soccer team hosted its inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness soccer tournament for University of Akron students to help fundraise and raise awareness for all of those who are fighting, have fought, and are affected by breast cancer.Â
Through the efforts of the soccer tournament, the Zips helped raise $700, in addition to another $400 dollars raised throughout Akron's annual Kick for the Cure game on Oct. 8, to total $1,100 raised that will be donated to the University of Akron Relay for Life team.
Zips Fall 5-0 to Ohio
Akron and Ohio battled in a close match in the initial 45 minutes of the contest, before the Bobcats scored four goals in the second half to drop the Zips, 5-0, at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field on Oct. 8.
Zips Hang Tough With Kent State, But Golden Flashes Take Control In Second Half
The Akron women's soccer team jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first half of the match and outshot the Eagles thanks to an aggressive offensive mindset , but two second-half goals including the game-winning tally off a penalty kick in the 83' was the deciding factor in the Zips 2-1 loss to Eastern Michigan on Oct. 1.
Zips Lose, 2-1, On Late PK Decision
The Akron women's soccer team jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first half of the match and outshot the Eagles thanks to an aggressive offensive mindset , but two second-half goals, including the game-winning tally off a penalty kick in the 83' was the deciding factor in the Zips 2-1 loss to Eastern Michigan on Oct. 1.
Zips Earn Well Deserved Result After Comeback Effort In 1-1 2OT Draw
After trailing for 77 minutes' courtesy of an early Central Michigan goal, the Zips scored in the 85th minute of regulation to force overtime, as the Akron women's soccer team earned a result in its comeback effort against Central Michigan after a 1-1 double-overtime draw at the CMU Soccer Complex on Sept. 29.
Zips Go Down To The Wire With NIU, But Fall 2-1
The University of Akron women's soccer program went down to the wire with the 2016 Mid-American Conference tournament runner-ups, Northern Illinois, but ultimately fell just short to the Huskies, 2-1, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet field on Sept. 22.
Two Late Goals Drop Zips, 2-0, Despite Battling With Broncos
The University of Akron women's soccer team continued to fight in its second Mid-American Conference match of the season against Western Michigan, but two late goals by the Broncos edged the Zips, 2-0, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Sept. 24.Â
Women's Soccer Hangs Tough In 1-0 Setback to Duquesne
On the final night of non-conference play for the 2017 campaign, the Akron women's soccer team hung tough against the 2016 Atlantic-10 tournament champion, Duquesne, but ultimately fell short, 1-0, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Sept. 15.
The Zips posted nine shots in the contest against the Dukes with five coming on goal. Akron also outshot Duquesne, 6-4, in the second stanza.
Zips Go Toe-to-Toe with A-10 Champion Dayton
The Akron women's soccer team went toe-to-toe with the reigning Atlantic-10 champions, Dayton, for a full 90 minutes but fell just short of a result falling, 3-2, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Sept. 8.
Akron took the offensive advantage in the match by outshooting the Flyers, 13-11, on the night, along with the edge in corner kicks, 5-3. Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in her second game back on the year and first start of the season paced the Akron attack with five shots, including a pair of goals in the 35th and 47th minutes.
Zips Offensive Surge Not Enough in 1-0 Loss to Niagara
The Akron women's soccer team blitzed Niagara offensively with 16 shots, including outshooting the Purple Eagles, 11-1, in the second half, but the Zips conceded an early goal as Niagara defeated Akron, 1-0, on Sept. 3.
Zips Lose Heartbreaker In Closing Minutes
The Akron women's soccer team played Cleveland State into the 107' of a double-overtime match with the possession in favor of the Zips, before losing a heartbreaker to the Vikings in the closing minutes of the match, 1-0, courtesy of a golden goal, on Aug. 31.
Zips First Win Secures Undefeated Opening Weekend
An offensive outpouring by the Zips earned Akron its first win of the 2017 season with a 3-0 victory over Green Bay to secure an undefeated opening weekend at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet field on Aug. 20.
Akron used a combination of attacking offense, including 13 shots, 11 on goal, and a stout defensive effort to earn the win over the Phoenix.
 A flurry of goals from the Zips came courtesy of freshman Erin Babcock (Liberty Township, Ohio), sophomore Catie Corrigan (Avon Lake, Ohio), and junior Rachel Baughman (Alliance, Ohio). Babcock, who scored the first goal of the season for the Zips, also notched her first collegiate goal in her second start.
On the defensive side of the ball, freshman goalkeeper Amani Jiu was once again phenomenal in the goal as she recorded her second consecutive clean sheet in her first college starts along with the help of her defensive line made up of four freshmen. In the contest, the Akron goalie made four saves.
2017 Preseason Prediction
The 2017 Mid-American Conference women's soccer preseason poll was announced by the league on Aug. 14 and the Akron Zips were predicted to finish fifth overall in the Eastern Division, by a vote of the leagues head coaches.
Out of the East, Kent State was chosen to come out atop the standings and received 10 first-place votes, followed by Buffalo with two first-place votes, and Miami (Ohio).
In the West, Ball State was selected to take the division title for the second straight year. Central Michigan and Western Michigan round out the top three spots in the West.
The 2016 MAC regular season champions, Ball State, are predicted to win the 2017 MAC Tournament receiving four votes, while Central Michigan garnered three votes, and Kent State earned two.
A Look Back at 2016
The Zips', guided by Herlihy, ended the year with a record of 4-11-4, and went 1-6-4 in Mid-American Conference play. Ashley Amato is the Zips returning leading goal scorer from 2016 with four goals. Three of her goals came in MAC play with each leading a crucial role in all three contests. Amato was named to the 2017 MAC All-Freshman team for her performance throughout league play. Akron's defensive unit and keepers combined to complete three shutouts on the season. The Zips 111 total saves were the second-most in the MAC and their 75 saves in conference play were a league-best.Â
Zips in the Pros
Two Akron alumnae are currently playing professional soccer overseas. Lani Smith (2013-14) is currently competing in Sweden with the Vasteras BK 30 and Sydney Blomquist (2013-14) is competing in Finland with Aland United.Â
In Smith's two seasons with the Zips, she was named to the 2014 All-MAC first team and Smith currently ranks first in shots (135), fifth in points (33), goals (15), t-6 in game-winning goals (4) in Akron program history. Â
Blomquist played for the Zips for two seasons after transferring to Akron from Louisville. In her career with the Zips, Blomquist appeared in 27 games with 23 starts, scored one goal, tallied one assist, and posted 24 shots with 12 on goal.Â
