Zips Go Down To The Wire With NIU But Fall 2-1

Friday, September 22

Akron, OH

7 pm

University of Akron

1-7-1 (0-1-0MAC)

Northern Illinois

4-3-1 (1-0-0MAC)

Northern Illinois

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

September 22 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

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Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights

AKRON, Ohio – 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, on Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet field.

Akron and Northern Illinois were all squared offensively, as each team registered 10 shots. Three of the Zips 10 shots landed on frame in the contest. Sophomore Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) paced the Zips individually with four shots in the match, including one shot on goal. Juniors Shea O'Brien (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) and Erica Schrader (Blacklick, Ohio) recorded two shots each, while freshmen Ally Brown (Batavia, Ohio) and Rylie Howman (Ashland, Ohio) each tallied a shot, respectively.

In her ninth start of the season, freshman Amani Jiu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) corralled four saves on the night in 90 minutes of action. The Akron keeper now has 40 saves on the season.

The Zips aggressively attacked the Huskies early on in the contest. In the first 12 minutes of the game, Akron outshot NIU 3-1, had two shots on goal, and was awarded a corner kick. Akron nearly jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 11:55 mark but Amato's shot was a sliver to high and banked off the cross bar and back into the field of play, before it was cleared away by the Huskies.

NIU posted a pair of goals in the 22' and 37' to take a 2-0 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.

Nine minutes into the second half, the Zips were able to cut into the Huskies lead courtesy of Schrader's first score of the season. Northern Illinois was called for a foul at the 54:48 mark setting up a set piece for Schrader. The Zips forward laced a low driven ball in past the line of defenders and into the left side of the net past a diving keeper.

Akron continued to apply pressure to the NIU defensive unit with five of their 10 shots coming in the final 30 minutes of the match.

Amato had another great look to score her first goal of the match with time winding down in the 86'. Brown possessed the ball down the right side of the field and into the box. Amato made a play into the middle of the box and a perfect cross by Brown found Amato high in the air, but her header attempt snuck high of the cross bar and out of play.

Despite a valiant comeback effort by the Zips, Akron fell short in the league opener, 2-1.

The Zips continue conference play on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 3 p.m., when the Western Michigan Broncos are in town. The women's contest will follow the men's soccer game at noon at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet field.