Akron Takes Down Defending MAC Champions, Toledo, 1-0 On Senior Day

Sunday, October 21

Akron, Ohio

1 PM

University of Akron

7-9-2 (4-5-1MAC)

University of Toledo

8-8-2 (4-5-1MAC)

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Takes Down Defending MAC Champions, Toledo, 1-0 On Senior Day

October 21 | Women's Soccer

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AKRON, Ohio – In their final game at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet field for the 2018 season, the Akron women's soccer team went out in winning style as the Zips took down the defending Mid-American Conference tournament champions, Toledo, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon.

The Zips have now won three consecutive MAC contests and increased its point total to 13 points. Akron's three game win streak inside league play is the first since 2010 when the Zips posted four straight MAC victories.

"Delighted for the players and the seniors. The players have shown they are given everything and that's all you can ask for," said head coach Noreen Herlihy. "We will give it a right go on Thursday and see where the chips will fall."

Akron went on to record seven shots in the match, including three shots on goal. Senior Erica Schrader (Blacklick, Ohio) led all players with a game-high three shots in the contest with one shot on goal. Senior Shea O'Brien (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), sophomores Abigail Brown (Batavia, Ohio) and Ryley Watt (Irwin, Pa.), and freshman Sydney Worthy (Groveport, Ohio) all notched one shot in the tilt, respectively.

Freshman Erin McKinney (Belvidere, Ill.) recorded her second consecutive clean sheet and third of the season. En route to the win, the goalkeeper pulled in three saves and added to her MAC leading 78 saves.

The Akron offense was aggressive in its offensive third during the initial 45 minutes of play. The Zips took the advantage in the time of possession and outshot Toledo, 4-2.

Schrader nearly put Akron up 1-0 in the 34' of play off an indirect free kick following a Rocket foul. From 30 yards out, the senior struck a rocket of a shot directly off the free kick that was headed towards the top of the goal but the Toledo keeper jumped and poked it away.

The Zips also claimed a 6-1 advantage in the corner kick category.

As Akron and Toledo headed into the locker room, the score remained tied a 0-0 despite the strong showing in the offensive end.

Just six minutes after returning to the pitch, Akron found pay dirt and took a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Lexie Kolano (Trafford, Pa.) possessed the ball heading down the left side of the field. The Zips forward made a cutback move past a defender, sent a cross to the far-right post of the goal, and Worthy crashed to the post to head the ball between the legs of the Toledo keeper and into the back of the net for the goal. Worthy tallied her fourth goal of the season while Kolano earned her second assist in an Akron uniform.

O'Brien nearly added to the Zips score in the 75' which would have given Akron a 2-0 lead. The senior captain, who scored the winning goal from 24 yards against Bowling Green just three days prior, took a shot at the net again from distance and almost recreated the goal but this shot was punched away by Toledo's goalie.

In the final 15 minutes of the game, the Akron defensive backline of Brown, Watt, junior Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and freshman Kayleigh Penton (Vermilion, Ohio), along with McKinney hunkered down and completed the shutout over the Rockets.

Prior to the game, the Zips recognized their four graduating seniors including O'Brien, Schrader, Sydney Sleek (Wooster, Ohio), and Samara Yurchak (Leola, Pa.). It is only fitting that Akron was able to claim one more win on its home pitch in their final home contest.

The Zips playoff hopes remain alive as Akron sits tied for eighth overall with Toledo at 13 points. However, the Zips have the head-to-head advantage against the Rockets with their victory. The campaign comes down to the regular season finale on Thursday, Oct. 25, as Akron takes on Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y., at 3 p.m.