Akron Takes Down Buffalo 3-2, Secures Spot In 2018 MAC Tournament

Thursday, October 25

Buffalo, NY

3 PM

University of Akron

8-9-2 (5-5-1MAC)

University at Buffalo

11-7-0 (5-6-0MAC)

Akron

Buffalo

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Takes Down Buffalo 3-2, Secures Spot In 2018 MAC Tournament

October 25 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | 2018 MAC Tournament Bracket (PDF)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – With the season in the balance and a berth to the 2018 Mid-American Conference tournament on the line, the Akron women's soccer team went into Buffalo, N.Y., and came out the victors with a 3-2 win over Buffalo courtesy of a game-winning goal by sophomore Lexie Kolano (Trafford, Pa.) in the 75' of the match, on Thursday afternoon.

The Zips are now headed to their second MAC Tournament in four years and their sixth appearance in program history. Akron enters postseason play as the sixth seed.

"This team hasn't quit all year, and when you give it everything whether on the pitch or in life, you put yourself in a position to do good things. This group has matured through the season and have kept pushing forward. That's the thing we as coaches are most proud of, they haven't quit," said head coach Noreen Herlihy. "They have earned the right to be in the postseason and we are absolutely thrilled for them. We look forward to going out Sunday and look to win. We don't fear anyone, but whatever the outcome, they have done us all proud."

The Akron offense went on to post 19 shots in the contest, which is just one shot shy of the teams season-high, which also included seven shots on goal. Sophomore Lexie Kolano (Trafford, Pa.) garnered the best game of her Akron career with a season-best five shots, two on goal, and two scores for the first multi-goal performance of her career. Senior Erica Schrader (Blacklick, Ohio) pitched in four shots in the match, while freshman Sydney Worthy (Groveport, Ohio) chipped in three shots, all on goal, and junior Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) posted a pair.

In the net, freshman Erin McKinney (Belvidere, Ill.) picked up her fourth straight win on the strength of eight saves, including a handful of big saves in the final minutes with Akron holding a one-goal lead. The Zips goalkeeper now has 95 saves on the season.

An action-packed first half of play between Akron and Buffalo resulted in a 1-1 tie game heading into the locker room.

Akron was very aggressive in its offensive end of the field totaling 11 first-half shots, including four shots on goal. Additionally, the Zips were awarded three corner kicks.

The Bulls earned the first goal of the contest in the 13' to get ahead of the Zips, 1-0, early in the contest. A pass that split three Akron defenders and a successful strike to the lower right post by Buffalo found the back of the net.

On a counter-attack in the 23rd minute of the match, Worthy's extra effort notched Akron's first goal of the contest. As the Zips began their march down the field, Worthy went sprinting down the middle of the field. The Zips forward received the ball 25 yards out from senior Erica Schrader and went full steam ahead. The Bulls keeper came out to meet Worthy 15 yards out from the goal while the freshman registered her first shot that was blocked. As the ball deflected to the left of Worthy, the forward regained possession and scored to the right side of the goal despite a Buffalo defender standing at the goal line.

The Zips continued to the offensive pressure in the offensive side of the field as the second half got underway.

On their fourth corner kick of the match in the 49', sophomore Ryley Watt (Irwin, Pa.) sent the ball into play and into the middle of the box. As the Bulls defenders attempted to clear the ball away, the ball continued to bounce free. After a high bounce, Kolano floated a high kick over the head of a UB defender and into the upper left corner of the goal to hand Akron a 2-1 lead.

At the 65:37 mark of the tilt, Akron was called for a foul in the box and the Bulls were awarded a penalty kick.

Despite allowing the equalizing goal, the Zips did not go away and continued to apply pressure to the Buffalo defense and keeper.

In the 75' of the match, Kolano again struck gold and reclaimed the lead for Akron for the second time in the contest, this time with a 3-2 advantage. Freshman Carly Pcholinsky (South Park, Pa.) rushed down the left side of the field racing past a Buffalo defender. As the Zips midfielder inched closer and closer to the net, the Bulls keeper came out to make a play, but Pcholinsky would make her pay. Pcholinsky curled a cross into the box out of the reach of a diving keeper and Kolano was at the receiving end and won the battle against the defender for the score and the eventual game-winning goal.

In the final 15 minutes of the match, Buffalo attempted four shots, but the results did not land on frame.

As the clock hit all zeroes, the Akron Zips clinched a spot in the 2018 Mid-American Conference Tournament.

No. 6 Akron now heads to Kalamazoo, Mich., where the Zips will take on No. 3 Western Michigan in the quarterfinal round on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m.