Jiu And Zips Shutout Ball State

Sunday, October 22

Akron, OH

1 pm

University of Akron

2-14-3 (1-7-2MAC)

Ball State

9-6-3 (6-1-2MAC)

OT 3

OT 4

Ball State

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

October 22 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

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AKRON, Ohio – After 110 minutes of aggressive back-and-forth soccer, the Akron women's soccer team shutout the reigning Mid-American Conference champions, Ball State, that resulted in a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

Freshman Amani Jiu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) posted her second consecutive shutout and fourth of her career on the strength of making seven saves in all 110 minutes of action.

Sophomore Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) would lead the Zips in the offensive stat line with three shots, all of which came on goal. Four Zips, junior's Rachel Baughman (Alliance, Ohio), Raechel Eck (Sterling Heights, Mich.) Shea O'Brien (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), and freshman Ally Brown (Batavia, Ohio), all contributed a shot in the contest for the Zips, with two of those shots landing on frame.

Amato had the first opportunity of the game between either squad to make an impact early in the match. The Zips forward was sprinting up the right side of the field and was behind all of the Cardinal defenders. With only the keeper to beat, Amato ripped a low shot that was turned away by a kick save as the keeper fell to the ground.

Another chance arose for Akron in the 17' of the match, again by Amato. Brown and Amato seamlessly passed the ball between one another to get into the box. With a give-and-go move by the pair, Amato found herself open and sent a shot towards the goal that was once again deflected away for the save.

At the 36:22 mark, Baughman nearly put the Zips ahead with a great chip shot that popped over the keeper's head but landed on top of the goal and out of play.

In the second half of the contest, the mindset of gaining the lead continued on. The Cardinals keeper made another spectacular kick save to rob Eck of a goal at the 62:03 mark of the second stanza. Eck corralled a ball inside the Akron box after a Ball State turnover and fired a shot at the goal but was kicked out of play.

On Amato's final shot of the match, the sophomore had an open look at the net. Amato sent a shot to the right side of the goal with the Ball State goalie leaning to the left side. As the ball approached the goal, a Cardinal defender stepped in its path and cleared the ball out.

After 90 minutes of play, each team remained scoreless forcing the contest into overtime.

The Cardinals had three chances to score in the initial OT period but their shots were blocked, went wide, and hit the crossbar.

The Zips had an opportunity to end the game on a golden goal in the second overtime period, but Brown's shot was saved in the right corner by the keeper after the Akron forward was being chased down by two defenders.

With the double-overtime draw, the Zips earn the result and another point in the MAC standings.

The 2017 regular season draws to a close on Thursday, Oct. 26, when Akron and Buffalo square off in the season finale at First Energy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field at 3 p.m.