Zips Hang With Kent State, But Golden Flashes Take Control In 2nd Half

Thursday, October 5

Kent, OH

7 pm

University of Akron

1-10-2, 0-4-1MAC

Kent State

8-4-1, 4-1-0MAC

Akron

Kent State

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Zips Hang With Kent State, But Golden Flashes Take Control In 2nd Half

October 05 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

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Boxscore | Boxscore (PDF)

KENT, Ohio – After a toe-to-toe first half between the Akron women's soccer team and Kent State, the Golden Flashes took control of the second half to defeat the Zips, 3-0, in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge on Thursday night at Dix Stadium.

"We lost to a high-quality team tonight, but felt we did quite well in the first half," said head coach Noreen Herlihy. "We conceded two goals in two minutes in the second half against the defending champions, and it's tough to come back from that. Having said that, the players never quit and gave it everything. We will move on now and focus for our home game Sunday."

Akron was led in the offensive category by sophomore Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) who registered a team-high four shots, while two of them fell on frame. Amato was followed by her teammate's freshman Ally Brown (Batavia, Ohio) who registered three shots and senior Sydney Schipani (Pittsburgh, Pa.) who notched a pair of shots.

Freshman goalkeeper Amani Jiu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) made eight saves in the net for the Zips in her 13^th start of the season, her second-most saves in a single match. The freshman keeper has now increased her season save total to 62.

The Zips began the contest with two shots within the 12 minutes of the match. Brown got the Zips in the boxscore with a shot on goal in the 6' that was saved by the Golden Flashes keeper. Amato then tallied her first shot of the night at the 11:06 mark, but again the shot was turned away.

The Golden Flashes would take the early advantage at the 17:07 mark of the initial stanza with a shot from straight away from 15 yards out that found the back of the net.

Brown and Amato posted back-to-back shots in the 43' in attempt to tie up the game in the final minutes of the first half, but Amato's shot was blocked and Brown's shot sailed high of the net.

Freshman Erin Babcock (Liberty Township, Ohio) tallied the first shot of the second half for Akron. The Zips midfielder possessed the ball about 25 yards out and ripped a shot that was pulled in by the Kent State goalie.

Kent State added two insurance goals in the 51' and 53' to extend its lead to 3-0.

Akron added three shots in the final three minutes of play by junior Rachel Baughman (Alliance, Ohio) and Schipani but could not find the back of the net to get the Zips on the board.

After 90 minutes of play, the Golden Flashes came out on top, 3-0, over the Zips and earned a point for Kent State in the Wagon Wheel Challenge.

The Zips return to action on their own pitch at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field on Sunday, Oct. 8, when Ohio comes to town. First kick is slated for 1 p.m.