Akron Edged by Kent State, 9-8

Saturday, March 13

Kent, Ohio

1:00 PM

University of Akron

3-2, 1-1MAC

Kent State

1-4, 1-1MAC

Akron

Kent State

March 13 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio - In the inaugural encounter between the University of Akron women's lacrosse team and Kent State, it was the Golden Flashes (1-4, 1-1 MAC) that escaped with a 9-8 triumph past the Zips (3-2, 1-1 MAC) on Saturday, March 13 at Dix Stadium.

Kent State earned a half point in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Wagon Wheel Challenge with the triumph to even the 16-sport rivalry series at four points apiece.

"Although of course we wanted the win, I am proud of our first-ever match up with Kent State," Akron head coach Christy Mitchell commented. "We missed a few opportunities, but never gave up. We made them work hard for that win and we will work even harder for the next one."

Redshirt freshmen Alexis Kiefer (West Chicago, Ill.) registered her team-leading 13th and 14th goals of the season for the Zips, while redshirt freshman Abby McMullen (Medina, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Kaylee Riggins (Zionsville, Ind) also posted a team-high two goals for Akron.

Additionally, freshman Anjali Silverheels (Hamburg, N.Y.) tallied her first career goal in the opening half, while redshirt freshman Kaija Kunttu (Zionsville, Ind.) notched a second-half tally to round out the Zips' scoring efforts on the afternoon.

Abby Jones crafted a match-high five-goal performance for the Golden Flashes.

Freshman GK Ashley Lapp (Missouri City, Texas) recorded eight saves for Akron, while her counterpart Taylor Monturo posted 13 stops for Kent State. The Zips' defensive efforts thwarted the Golden Flashes' attack on each of their eight free position attempts.

The Zips earned a 21-17 advantage in shots on goal in the tilt, despite being outshoot overall by a 28-25 margin.

Riggins gave the Zips an early 1-0 advantage with a goal at the 2:32 mark, before the Golden Flashes assumed at 3-1 lead with a trio of unanswered tallies.

Akron evened the score at three following successful free position shots from Silverheels and Riggins in the 23rd (22:14) and 27th (26:51) minutes, respectively.

Kent State entered the intermission holding a 4-3 lead after a goal with 18 seconds left in the half.

The two teams exchanged the first four goals of the second half before the Golden Flashes netted back-to-back tallies to assume an 8-5 lead with 15:42 to play.

McMullen and Kiefer helped the Zips fire back a scoring salvo of their own with goals at the 17:37 and 22:17 marks, respectively.

Jones extended Kent State's lead to 9-7 with 5:51 to play before Kiefer capped the scoring with a goal at the 28:52 mark.

Akron is slated to travel to Moon Township, Pa., for a 1 p.m. league showdown at Robert Morris on Tuesday, March 16.

AKRON GOALS:
Riggins (1st-27:28) (unassisted), Silverheels (1st-7:46) (free position attempt), Riggins (1st-3:09) (free position attempt), Kunttu (2nd-28:31) (free position attempt), McMullen (2nd-26:09) (unassisted), McMullen (2nd-12:23) (unassisted), Kiefer (2nd-7:43) (free position attempt), Kiefer (2nd-1:08) (Kunttu)