O'Brien's 88th Minute Goal Leads Akron To 1-0 Victory Over Bowling Green

Thursday, October 18

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

6-9-2 (3-5-1MAC)

Bowling Green

10-4-2 (8-1-0MAC)

BGSU

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

O'Brien's 88th Minute Goal Leads Akron To 1-0 Victory Over Bowling Green

October 18 | Women's Soccer

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AKRON, Ohio– In the 88^thminute of scoreless match, senior captain Shea O'Brien (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) connected on a shot from 24 yards out for the eventual game-winning goal to upset the top team in the Mid-American Conference, Bowling Green, in stunning fashion on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

The Zips midfielder's third goal of the season and fourth of her career was one of the biggest tallies for the captain in an Akron uniform. The game-winner earned Akron an additional three points in the MAC standings increasing its total to 10 points.

"These players haven't quit all season, even with all the heartbreak of OT losses. To win back-to-back games in the 88th minute shows that," said head coach Noreen Herlihy. "Shea scored a great goal, while the defense and Erin in goal were immense for us tonight also."

Akron (6-9-2, 3-5-1 MAC) moved up the field on a counter-attack following a Bowling Green turnover. Redshirt freshman Charley Kale (Sylvania, Ohio) moved up the field with the ball before sending a pass into the midfield to sophomore Angela Boyce (Farmington Hills, Mich.). O'Brien recognized a hole in the Falcons defense, received a pass from Boyce, set her feet, and ripped a shot into the upper right corner of the net for the goal.

In the shot category, the Zips offense tallied seven shots with four coming on frame. O'Brien led all Zips with three attempts, two of which went on goal, including the game-winner. Sophomore Lauren Lambert (Stoutsville, Ohio) added an additional two shots for Akron, while junior Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and freshman Sydney Worthy (Groveport, Ohio) chipped in one shot each.

Freshman Erin McKinney (Belvidere, Ill.) made her 14th start of the season in the goal for the Zips and picked up the second clean sheet of her career. The Akron netminder was phenomenal in goal for Akron making 10 saves against an offense that averaged 2.07 goals per game coming into the match. McKinney now has 85 saves on the season.

McKinney and the Akron defense stepped up and played a strong first half against a potent Bowling Green offense. The Zips held the Falcons scoreless in the initial 45 minutes despite BGSU averaging 1.0 goals (15 total) in the first half of play.

The Falcons (10-4-2, 8-1-0 MAC) continued its offensive blitzed in the second period, but again McKinney and the Zips defense stood tall and did not waiver.

As for Akron, the Zips offense came alive in the second stanza recording six of its seven shots in the final 45 minutes of the contest.

Akron had a flurry of chances in the half to go up 1-0 against the Falcons, but the BG keeper, Kathleen Duwve, denied the opportunities. Both Amato and Worthy sent headers toward that net that had a chance to go in before Duwve thwarted the opportunity. Lambert, who subbed into the game in the second period, had a breakaway attempt at the goal but a last-second Falcon defender got a piece of the ball changing the direction of the flight path and ended in the side of the net.

Despite being outshot in the match, the Zips continued to fight and were rewarded in the 88^thminute by O'Brien to secure the victory over Bowling Green, who came into the contest undefeated in league play.

The home finale and senior day are scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 21, as Akron welcomes in Toledo at 1 p.m. The contest between the Zips and Rockets can be seen on ESPN+ with Dave Bacon (play-by-play) and Otto Orf (Analyst).