Zips Look To Keep Momentum Rolling On Road Against Dayton and Xavier

Friday, September 7

Dayton, OH

7 PM

University of Akron

University of Dayton

Zips Look To Keep Momentum Rolling On Road Against Dayton and Xavier

September 06 | Women's Soccer

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Akron vs. Dayton Match Notes (PDF)

Akron (2-2-1, 0-0-0 MAC) vs. Dayton (3-2-0)
Friday, Sept. 7
Dayton, Ohio
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com

Akron vs. Xavier Match Notes (PDF)

Akron (2-2-1, 0-0-0 MAC) vs. Xavier (2-4-0)
Sunday, Sept. 9
Cincinnati • 1 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com

What's Ahead
The Zips hit the road and begin its five-game road trip over the next two weeks to close out non-conference play and kick off the Mid-American Conference opener. The trip begins in southwest Ohio for matches against Dayton on Friday, Sept. 7, and Xavier on Sunday, Sept. 9.

Scouting The Flyers
As Akron prepares to head to Dayton, Ohio, the Flyers stand at 3-2 prior to the match-up on Friday night. Dayton has seen victories over Eastern Michigan (3-1), James Madison (2-1), and William & Mary (2-1). The Flyers two losses came from the hands of nationally-ranked Louisville (0-1) and Butler (0-1).

Six Flyers have garnered a goal in Dayton's five games of the 2018 season. Micayla Livingston paces the Flyers offense scoring two goals after scoring seven goals in 2017 to lead the team. Quincy Kellet owns a team-best two of the team's five helpers.

Kaelyn Johns has solidified herself as the Flyers starting keeper as she has started 66 matches and has made 284 saves. On the year, Johns owns a 0.99 goals-against average and has allowed just five goals. Johns has corralled 22 saves which equates to a .815 save percentage.

Scouting The Musketeers
Through six games of the 2018 regular season, Xavier owns a 2-4 record heading into the weekend. After opening the season with a 2-1 win over fellow MAC opponent, Toledo, the Musketeers dropped four straight contests including one match against 13th ranked Tennessee. XU is riding a one-game win streak after defeating Southern Indiana, 5-0. The Musketeers square off with Bowling Green prior to the match with the Zips.

In six contests, Xavier has notched eight goals courtesy of seven different players. The Musketeers top scoring threat, Samantha Dewey, leads the XU offense with a team-high two goals, five points, 15 shots, and six shots on goal, along with one assist. Six other Xavier players have notched one goal each and have combined to record 17 shots on the season.

Olivia Jenkins and Toni Bizzarro split the goaltending duties for the Musketeers. Jenkins owns a 1-1-0 record in two starts, while Bizzarro stands 1-3-0 in four starts. Combined the two keepers have tallied a 1.64 goals-against average, allowed 10 goals, and recorded a .762 save percentage.

Series History

Dayton and Akron are meeting on the pitch for the second time in program history and second consecutive season. The Flyers defeated Akron last season, 3-2.
The match-up between Xavier and Akron will be the first in program history between the two schools.

Coaches

Dayton: Eric Golz is in his second season at the helm of the Dayton women's soccer program after serving as an assistant coach at UD since 2011. Golz has compiled a 12-11-2 overall record in his first 25 matches as head coach.
Xavier: Nate Lie is amidst year two roaming the sidelines as head coach of the Xavier program after coming over from Cincinnati. In his first 26 games as head coach, Lie has earned a 10-12-4 overall record.
Akron: Noreen Herlihy is in her fourth season on the sidelines as the head coach of The University of Akron's women's soccer program. She owns a 14-39-11 record leading the Zips since taking over the program. In her first year in charge, Herlihy and her staff led the 2015 Akron Zips to the Mid-American Conference tournament for the first time since 2009 and advanced to the semi-final round for the first time in program history. Herlihy has coached four All-MAC honorees, 21 student-athletes have been named to the Academic All-MAC team, and her team has been recognized as a Collegiate Team Academic Award winner by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) for three straight seasons.

Zips Tidbits

Ashley Amato played her freshman season as a defender before making the switch to forward as a sophomore. In the contest against Morehead State, the junior saw time at both positions.
Freyja Murray is the first student-athlete from Australia to compete on the Akron women's soccer team in program history. Murray is currently one-of-three student-athletes competing for UA that hail from "Down Under".
The Zips roster consists of two student-athletes who are dual-citizens; Angela Boyce (England) and Kat Costa (Germany).
Lexie Kolano competed for The University of Cincinnati in her freshman season before transferring to Akron for a fresh start. Kolano scored one goal in 14 games for UC.
Senior's Rachel Baughman, Shea O'Brien, Sydney Sleek, Erica Schrader, and Samara Yurchak have played in a combined 212 games over the span of the last three seasons.
The Zips roster consists of 12 players from Ohio, eight from Pennsylvania, two from Michigan, one from Illinois, one from Missouri, and one national player from Australia.
Sophomore Lexie Kolano along with freshmen Erin McKinney, Bella Henderson, Kayleigh Penton, Sydney Worthy, Hailey Clere, Carly Pcholinsky, and Sydney Ward all made their Akron debuts against Morehead State, while Pcholinsky, McKinney, Penton, Worthy, Clere, and Ward all earned their first collegiate starts.
Rachel Baughman notched the first goal of the 2018 season for the Zips against Morehead State (8/17). It was the fifth of her career and first goal in a season opener.
Carly Pcholinsky notched her first career assist in the contest against the Eagles (8/17).
The Zips 11 shots against Morehead State are the third-most shots taken by an Akron team in a season opener in the last seven seasons.
Freyja Murray competed in her first collegiate match against Charlotte.
A trio of Zips scored their first goal of the 2018 season against Wofford; Ashley Amato, Eliese LaCourt, and Ryley Watt.
Bella Henderson earned her first collegiate victory and combined shutout against the Terriers.
Syndey Worthy is just the fifth player in program history to score three goals in a single contest.
The Zips five goals in the second half against YSU is tied for the most goals scored in a single half in program history.
The six goals scored by Akron are the most tallied in a single-game by the Zips squad since it was last done in 2008 against Pittsburgh.
Erica Schrader and Lexie Kolano registered their first goals of the 2018 season against YSU. Kolano's tally was the first of her Akron career and second of her college career, while Schrader netted her third
Akron's set a program record in assists in a single-half against YSU registering five helpers in the second half of play. The six total assists in the contests are second-most in a single match.
The Zips tallied the second-most points in a contest against the Penguins totaling 18 (6 goals/6 assists) on the afternoon. The 15 points recorded in the second half of the match are the most points recorded in one half in program history.
In the NCAA, Akron ranks T-45th in goals (12) and T-68th in assists (9).
Akron's 12 goals through the first five games are the most scored by the team to start a season since 2008 when the Zips scored 15.
Heading into the weekend of play, the Zips are riding a three-game unbeaten streak 2-0-1.
The Zips offense is just two goals and four assists away from matching their season totals from the 2017 season (14 goals/13 assists).

The Mad Hatter
A big weekend for freshman Sydney Worthy was rewarded as she helped lead Akron to a 1-0-1 record against Indiana State and Youngstown State. The Zips forward went on to score her first career goal against the Penguins, however, that was not all she would do. Worthy scored three unanswered goals in a span of 20 minutes to earn her first career hat trick and is now tied for first place in Akron program history for most goals scored in a single contest.

Worthy's performance earned her the honor of being named MAC Offensive Player of the Week and the Zips Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week.

Up Next
The 2018 non-conference portion of the Akron women's soccer schedule comes to a close on Friday, Sept. 14, as the Zips take on Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pa.