Late Goals Lift Western Michigan Over Akron, 2-1

Friday, October 18

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

5-9-1, 2-4-1MAC

Western Michigan

6-7-1, 4-2-1MAC

Western Michigan

Akron

Late Goals Lift Western Michigan Over Akron, 2-1

October 18 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Follow Akron Women's Soccer on Twitter and Facebook

BOXSCORE | BOX SCORE (PDF) | POST-GAME COMMENTS

AKRON, Ohio - A pair of unanswered second-half goals lifted Western Michigan (6-7-1, 4-2-1 MAC) to a 2-1 women's soccer victory over Akron (5-9-1, 2-4-1 MAC) on Friday, Oct. 18 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The tilt marked the opening of the annual Kick for a Cure weekend for Akron women's soccer.

The Zips were able to garner offensive chances in the contest as Akron registered a 16-9 advantage in shots on the evening, including a decisive 12-4 edge in the second half. The Zips posted three shots on goal, all in the second half, while Western Michigan recorded six shots on frame.

Sophomore Sydney Worthy (Groveport, Ohio) paced Akron's offensive attack with a game-high four shots, while senior Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and redshirt sophomore Aislinn Meaney (Ennis, Ireland) added three shots apiece. The Broncos were led by a team-high four shots from Grace Labadie.

Freshman goalkeeper Libby Harper (Hatfield, England) collected a game-high four saves for Akron, while Maggie Rogers pulled in a pair of stops for Western Michigan.

The Broncos registered the initial three shots of the match, all on frame, strikes that were saved by Harper, before Worthy's shot went wide at the 25:12 mark.

Akron's best scoring opportunity in the opening stanza came in the 35th minute (34:46) when Western Michigan was whistled for foul in the box by Rogers. Amato struck a free kick just inside the 18-yard box that went high of the mark.

The match was scoreless at the intermission with the Broncos registering a 5-4 edge in first-half shots, including a 3-0 margin in shots on goal.

Freshman Bailee Bowers (Dublin, Ohio) opened the second half with a header inside the six-yard box for the Zips that went high at the 49:39 mark.

Akron broke into the scoring column first in the 63rd minute (62:29) when Western Michigan was whistled for a hand ball in the box, a foul that resulted in the Zips being awarded a penalty kick. Stepping to the line and connecting on her fourth goal of the season to give Akron a 1-0 lead was Amato.

Just over a minute later at the 63:32 mark, Means had her shot thwarted for a save by Rogers.

Bailey Korhorn netted the equalizer for the Broncos in the 68th minute (67:29) with a strike from the top of the 18-yard box to the upper 90 off an assist from Labadie.

Harper denied a shot on goal from Morgan Otteson at the 68:01 mark to keep the contest squared at one.

Otteson followed scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal for Western Michigan in the 73rd minute (73:00). Otteson connected on a shot from 10 yards out off a pair of strong passes from Labadie and Suzuna Shibukawa for assists.

The Zips had scoring opportunities over the final 17 minutes as the Akron attack pushed the ball into the offensive third en route to posting an 8-0 edge in shots.

The Zips' best scoring chance came in the 90th minute (89:46) as Meany headed a ball in the box following a corner by sophomore Kaleigh Penton (Vermillion, Ohio), a shot that was thwarted by a save from Rogers.

Up next for Akron, the Zips host Northern Illinois in a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday, Oct. 20, at FirstEnergy Stadium.