Women's Soccer Hangs Tough In 1-0 Setback to Duquesne

Friday, September 15

Akron, OH

7 pm

University of Akron

1-6-1

Duquesne

4-2-1

DUQUESNE

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Women's Soccer Hangs Tough In 1-0 Setback to Duquesne

September 15 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Follow Akron Women's Soccer on Twitter and Facebook

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights

AKRON, Ohio – 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, on Friday night, but ultimately fell short, 1-0, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet field.

The Zips would post nine shots in the contest against the Dukes' with five coming on goal. Akron also outshot Duquesne, 6-4, in the second stanza. Junior midfielder Shea O'Brien (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) would lead the Zips offensively and tallied three shots, with one on frame. Sophomore Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) came in off the bench for Akron and provided a spark offensively by posting a pair of shots in 55 minutes of action. Juniors Rachel Baughman (Alliance, Ohio), Erica Schrader (Blacklick, Ohio) and freshman Angela Boyce (Farmington Hills, Mich.) each garnered a shot on the night, respectively.

Freshman Amani Jiu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was once again strong in the net for Akron and compiled six saves in 90 minutes of play. The Zips keeper now owns a 1.72 goals against average in eight matches.

Akron looked to make a strong push following the first kick of the game. The Zips mindset early on in the match was to get the ball up the field and into the offensive third. Akron was successful in maintaining its game plan and posted three shots in the first 15 minutes. Two of the Zips five shots on goal came courtesy of O'Brien (13') and Boyce (15'), but both of their shots were corralled by the Dukes' goalie.

Along with an aggressive offensive mindset, the Zips defensive back line made numerous strong defensive plays to open the contest to disrupt any type of attack by Duquesne.

Heading into the locker room, Akron and Duquesne were all squared at zero.

The Zips once again came out of the locker room looking to go ahead in the match. Akron was awarded a pair of corner kicks in less than a minute. On the second attempt, O'Brien was able to get a shot off but it was once again turned away by the Dukes keeper.

Duquesne broke the scoreless tie at the 59:20 mark of the match beating the Akron keeper to the left side of the goal.

In the final 20 minutes of game, Akron garnered four shots that either went wide of frame or were pulled in for a save.

At the end of 90 minutes, the Zips came up short to the Dukes', 1-0.

Akron returns to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet field on Friday, Sept. 22, as the Zips' open Mid-American Conference play. Akron and Northern Illinois are set for a showdown at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22, before the Zips meet Western Michigan on Sept. 24 at 3 p.m.