Akron Battles Buffalo To 1-1 Double OT Draw, Earns Fifth Seed, and Sets Its Sights On Postseason

Thursday, October 31

Akron, Ohio

3 PM

University of Akron

8-9-2, 5-4-2

Buffalo

8-7-3, 5-4-2

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Buffalo	0	1	0	0	1
Akron	1	0	0	0	1

Akron Battles Buffalo To 1-1 Double OT Draw, Earns Fifth Seed, and Sets Its Sights On Postseason

October 31 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights | 2019 MAC Tournament Bracket (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio– On a cold and rainy day at FirstEnergy Stadium, the Akron women's soccer team battled to a 1-1 double-overtime draw against Buffalo in the regular-season finale to close out the 2019 regular season.

With the conclusion of the regular season, the Zips earned the fifth seed in the upcoming 2019 Mid-American Conference Tournament. Akron will head to Buffalo, N.Y., for a rematch with the Buffalo Bulls on Sunday, Nov. 3, in the quarterfinal round.

Akron advances to its second consecutive MAC postseason tournament, its third in the past five seasons, and its sixth appearance in program history.

With the help of mother nature and constant rain in the Akron area, the Zips jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage just 37 seconds into the match. Buffalo was called offsides 15 seconds in and the Zips were awarded a free-kick. Watt booted the ball back into play just outside the box where a UB defender headed the ball back to its keeper who saw the ball slip right through her hands and into the back of the net for an own goal.

The Akron defense kept the Bulls off the scoreboard for 82 minutes before Buffalo was able to square the game up at 1-1 in at the 83:55 mark of the second half.

Each team had its opportunities at a golden goal in both overtime periods with a combined nine shots in the final 20 minutes of play, however, each shot missed the mark or was pulled in for a save by each team's respective keeper.

In the match, Akron went on to register 11 shots and three shots on goal. The forward duo of redshirt sophomore Aislinn Meaney (Ennis, Ireland) and sophomore Carly Pcholinsky (South Park, Pa.) directed the Zips offensive attack registering four shots each and accounting for all three shots on goal. Junior Ryley Watt (Irwin, Pa.), redshirt sophomore Charley Kale (Sylvania, Ohio), and sophomore Kayleigh Penton (Vermilion, Ohio) all recorded a shot in the affair.

Freshman goalkeeper Libby Harper (Hatfield, England) turned in a career- and season-high nine saves in 110 minutes in the afternoon contest.

Following the Zips goal, the pace of the match went back-and-forth between the Akron and Buffalo as the wet conditions on the field created a slick playing surface.

At the end of the initial 45 minutes of play, UA garnered six first-half shots and a game-high four shots on goal. Pcholinsky tallied a pair of shots in the first stanza to pace the offense. The Zips forward posted the first shot in the match for Akron at the 3:10 mark but her shot was pulled in for the save.

The heavy winds played a factor in the second half for Akron with the wind in their face making it difficult for the Zips to get an offensive attack going.

As the match headed into OT, Meaney missed out on a golden goal opportunity by mere inches. The Zips forward had a one-on-one battle against the Bulls keeper. As Buffalo's goalie sprinted towards Meaney to make a play on the ball, the redshirt sophomore poked the ball past the defender and in the direction of the goal. As the ball inched closer to the net, it bounced off the left post and out of play for a goal kick.

Meaney and Pcholinsky would attempt a combined three more shots in overtime, but as time expired the Zips and Bulls remained deadlocked at 1-1 resulting in a draw and one point in the conference standings to each squad.

No. 5 Akron will now head to Buffalo, N.Y., on Sunday, Nov. 3, for a rematch with No. 4 Buffalo in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 MAC Tournament.