MACtion Kicks Off For Akron Women's Soccer Against Bowling Green and Toledo

Friday, September 27

Bowling Green, OH

7 PM

University of Akron

Bowling Green

MACtion Kicks Off For Akron Women's Soccer Against Bowling Green and Toledo

September 26 | Women's Soccer

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Akron at B owling Green Gamenotes (PDF)

Akron (3-5-0, 0-0-0 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (2-4-2, 0-0-0 MAC)
Friday, Sept. 27
Bowling Green, Ohio • Cochrane Field • 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com
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Akron vs. T oledo Gamenotes (PDF)

Akron (3-5-0, 0-0-0 MAC) vs. Toledo (3-5-0, 0-0-0 MAC)
Sunday, Sept. 29
Toledo, Ohio • Scott Park Soccer Complex • 1:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com

What's Ahead
Eight non-conference games are in the books and the Akron women's soccer team has its sights set on Mid-American Conference play as the second half of the season looms. The Zips begin their conference slate on the road in Northwest Ohio taking on the 2018 MAC Champions, Bowling Green (Sept. 27), and 2017 MAC Champions, Toledo (Sept. 29).

Scouting the Falcons
A tall task awaits the Zips heading into Cochrane Field on Friday, Sept. 27, taking on the defending MAC champions. Following Bowling Green's non-conference schedule, the Falcons stand 2-4-2. BG picked up a pair of victories over Valparaiso (2-0) and Dayton (2-0), all at home. The Falcons were predicted to repeat as conference champions in the 2019 MAC preseason poll.

Bowling Green uses a high powered offensive attack leading to the Falcons finding themselves inside the top five MAC squads in goals (11), assists (10), and shots (103). Six different Falcons have tallied a goal on the year. The duo of Nikki Cox and Kennedy White pace the BGSU offensive attack scoring three goals each on a combined 30 shots and 17 shots on goal.

Kathleen Duwve is a veteran in the net for the Falcons competing in 44 career matches and making 41 career starts. In seven contests in 2019, Duwve has posted 18 saves and allowed 11 goals to total a 1.70 goals-against average and .621 save percentage.

Scouting the Rockets
Two years removed from a Mid-American Conference Tournament championship, Toledo owns a 3-5 ledger heading into the opening weekend of league play. The Rockets have won three of its last five contests including victories over Oakland (4-3), Wright State (4-1, and most recently Detroit (4-0) to cap off their non-conference slate.

In the MAC, the Toledo offense ranks third in goals scored (13), third in assists (12), fourth in points (38), and seventh in shots (78). Individually, the Rocket's Staphanie Currie sits atop the MAC rankings in goals scored with a team-high five scores, three assists, and 13 points on 16 shots (12 SOG). Five other members of the UT offense have garnered a goal through eight games including Sheridan Bufe, Abby Demboski, and Madison Medalle who each had a pair of goals.

In five of the eight non-conference matches, Madison Perrin earned the start between the posts for the Rockets. The redshirt junior has eclipsed 450 minutes, made 26 saves, allowed nine goals, owns a 1.80 GAA, and a .743 save percentage while posting all three W's (3-2-0) and one shutout for UT.

Series History
Akron and Bowling Green have squared off 18 times on the pitch since the first meeting between the two programs in 2001. The Falcons have edged the Zips overall 11-6-1 all-time. Most recently, UA defeated BGSU in 2018, 1-0. The last time the Zips left Bowling Green with a victory was in 2012.

In the all-time series between Akron and Toledo, the Zips trail the Rockets 3-13-2 in its 18 previous contests heading into the 19th meeting. UA last defeated UT a year a go in a 1-0 victory at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Zips look to secure their first win when playing at Toledo.

Coaches
Bowling Green: In just his third season at the helm of the Bowling Green women's soccer program, Matt Fannon has seen nothing but success for the Falcons. Since taking over in 2018, Fannon has led the Falcons to a 30-17-4 overall mark, an NCAA Tournament appearance (2018), one MAC Tournament championship (2018), back-to-back finals appearances, a regular-season title (2018), and earned back-to-back Coach of the Year honors.

Toledo: Tj Buckholz, is in his fifth season running the Rockets women's soccer program. In his tenure, Buckholz led UT to its first MAC Championship (2017) since 2011, an appearance at the NCAA Tournament, and a 37-39-6 overall record.

Akron: Noreen Herlihy is in her fifth season on the sidelines as the head coach of The University of Akron's women's soccer program. She owns a 23-51-12 record leading the Zips since taking over the program. Since taking over the program in 2015, Herlihy has led Akron to the Mid-American Conference postseason tournament twice and advanced to the semi-final round for the first time in program history in 2015. Herlihy has coached seven All-MAC honorees, 25 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 four straight seasons.

Zips Tidbits

The Zips roster consists of seven players from Ohio, eight from Pennsylvania, one from Kentucky, two from Germany, two from England, one from Minnesota, and one from Ireland.
The Zips roster consists of one student-athlete who is a dual-citizen 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 and four goals in her first season at Akron for a total of five collegiate goals scored.
The Zips return its starting defensive backline from 2018 including senior Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.), junior Abigail Brown (Batavia, Ohio), junior Ryley Watt (Irwin, Pa.), and freshman Kayleigh Penton (Vermilion, Ohio). The quartet played a combined 6,774 minutes of action and aided in the Zips five shutouts.
Junior Anya Donelan (Warrington, England) competed at Monroe College for two seasons (2017-18), scored two goals and eight assists in her career. Donelan and Monroe College captured the 2018 National Junior College Athletic Association championship and went undefeated.
The six international student-athletes are the most on an Akron roster in program history.
Lucia Lobato and Aislinn Meaney are the first Irish student-athletes to compete on a Zips women's soccer squad in program history.
Seven Zips made their Akron debuts against Charlotte, including Aislinn Meaney, Vanessa Berlin, Lucia Lobato, Libby Harper, Anya Donelan, Bailee Bowers, and Emily Clopp.
Despite the two results, Akron registered 20 shots in its first two contests including nine shots on goal.
Redshirt sophomore Charley Kale scored her first career goal and the first goal of the season for the Zips against Cleveland State.
Freshman Lucia Lobato earned her first collegiate assist and registered the first assist of the season for the Zips in Akron's match with Cleveland State.
Despite the result, Akron outshot CSU, 15-9, and owned the advantage in corner kicks, 4-1.
Akron picked up its first win of the 2019 campaign against Niagara while also earning its first victory over the Purple Eagles in program history.
Senior Ashley Amato has scored a goal in back-to-back contests against Niagara and Morehead State.
Meaney scored her first Akron goal and game-winning score against the Purple Eagles.
Junior Anya Donelan notched her first Akron assist in the Zips lone goal against MSU.
Win #2 came in Youngstown, Ohio as the Zips took down Youngstown State, 1-0.
Freshman Bailee Bowers scored her first career goal and the first career game-winning goal in the Zips win over YSU.
Akron is 3-3 in its last six games and has tallied seven goals by four different players in the four-week span.
Amato scored her third goal and second penalty kick score of the season against Eastern Kentucky.
Since the beginning of the campaign, Amato has jumped to fifth in career goals scored (15) and sixth in career points tallied (30).
UA picked up its third win of the campaign in the 2019 non-conference finale against Robert Morris.
Libby Harper picked up the first solo shutout of her career against the Colonials.
Akron's goal against RMU went down as an own goal, however, the play was set up by Ryley Watt sending a free kick into the box and Carly Pcholinsky heading the ball on goal.
UA picked up three non-conference victories in back-to-back seasons (2018-19) and for the sixth time in program history.
In program history, Akron has picked up three wins in a MAC season opener (07, 08, 13) while also playing to one draw (16).
The last time Akron and Bowling Green met in a league opener, the Zips fell to the Falcons, 1-2, in 2003.

MACtion
When Akron steps on to the pitch against Bowling Green, the Zips will commence its 19th season competing inside the Mid-American Conference. Akron captured a MAC East Division title in 2009, competed in five MAC postseason tournaments, made one semi-finals appearance, and registered a 49-129-24 overall record.

Up Next
Akron makes its home debut during Mid-American Conference play as the Zips welcome in Ball State and Miami to FirstEnergy Stadium. UA takes on Ball State on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. before hosting Miami in an afternoon affair on Sunday, Oct. 6, to close out the weekend. The contest with Ball State marks the beginning of a three-game homestand for the Zips.