Akron Opens Second-Half of MAC Play Battling Kent State

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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's soccer team begins the second half of its campaign this Sunday, March 28, as the Zips welcome rival Kent State to FirstEnergy Stadium for 5 p.m. tilt.

March 28 vs. Kent State | 5 p.m. | FirstEnergy Stadium | Akron, Ohio
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com; Live Stream: www.GoZips.com

CRYSTAL CLINIC ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE:
A half-point in the 16-sport Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge will be on the line when Akron battles Kent State on Sunday, March 28. The rivalry series between the Zips and Golden Flashes is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Through 11 events this season, the series is tied, 4.0-4.0.

Since the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include 16 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. To learn more about the rivalry and follow the results and standings, visit:
www.WagonWheelChallenge.com

SCOUTING AKRON:
Akron eyes its first triumph of the year after suffering a 1-0 setback in its last contest versus Miami on Sunday, March 21.

Sophomore Bailee Bowers (Dublin, Ohio) and redshirt juniors Charley Kale (Sylvania, Ohio) and Aislinn Meaney (Ennis, Ireland) lead Akron with a team-high five shots apiece, while freshman Sarah Nguyen (Irwin, Pa.) and junior Sydney Worthy (Groveport, Ohio) have added four shots each. Sophomore GK Libby Harper (Hatfield, England) has started each of Akron's last two games and has posted seven saves and owns one shutout on the strength of a 0.45 goals against average.

Akron is led by sixth-year head coach Noreen Herlihy, who maintains a 28-62-14 ledger at the helm of the Zips' program, and a 278-175-44 mark in 26 campaigns overall as a head coach.

SCOUTING KENT STATE:
Kent State is 2-3 on the young campaign, following three consecutive losses, including a 5-0 setback at Bowling Green on Sunday, March 21.

Senior Yasmine Hall owns team-high marks in goals (3) and points (9), while ranking second in shots on goal (4) and third in shots (9). Senior Vital Kats leads the Golden Flashes in assists (3), shots (15) and shots on goal (9). Sophomore GK Sarah Melen has made 25 saves en route to collecting a pair of shutouts.

Kent State is led by 20th-year head coach Rob Marinaro, who maintains a 183-151-42 ledger at the helm of the Golden Flashes' program.

	KENT STATE	AKRON
Overall Record	2-3-0	0-4-1
Conference Record	2-3-0	0-4-1
Goals	5	0
Goals-Shot Attempts	5-54	0-34
Goals Per Game	1.00	0.00
Assists	6	0
Shots	54	34
Shot on Goal	26	12
Shots Percentage	.093	.000
Shots on Goal Per Game	.481	.353
Shots Per Game	10.8	6.8
Corner Kicks	19	15
Opponent Corner Kicks	28	14
Penalty Kicks	0-0	0-1
Opponent Penalty Kicks	1-1	0-0

SERIES HISTORY:
The Zips will square off against Kent State for the 20th time in program history with Golden Flashes leading the all-time series 16-3-0. Kent State earned a 1-0 decision past Akron on March 7, 2021 at Dix Stadium.

LAST GAME:
The University of Akron women's soccer team controlled the pace of play and statistically dominated Miami in Mid-American Conference action, but a first-half goal held up as the RedHawks posted a 1-0 triumph past the Zips on Sunday, March 21 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Jaimie Tottleben scored what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 12th minute (11:33) off an assist from Kristina DeMarco.

Akron registered a 12-2 advantage in second-half shots en route to outshooting Miami on the afternoon, 14-7, including a 6-3 margin in shots on goal.

Charley Kale, freshman Annabel Thomas (Canonsburg, Pa.) and Sydney Worthy directed the Zips' offensive attack recording a match-high three shots apiece.

Libby Harper was again solid in net for Akron making a pair of saves, while Izzie Vaccari was stout in goal for the RedHawks making six stops.

Junior Carly Pcholinsky (South Park, Pa.) registered the first shot of the game for the Zips at the 1:41 mark, a strike that was saved by Vaccari.

Harper denied a shot in the sixth minute (5:01), before the RedHawks were able to find the back of the net at the 11:33 mark for a goal by Tottleben.

Sarah Nguyen added a shot on goal in the 35th minute (34:13) for Akron that was stopped for a save by Vaccari.

The Zips opened the second half with consecutive shots on goal from Aislinn Meaney and Kale at the 45:42 and 46:27 marks, respectively.

A high-arching save by Harper in the 60th minute (59:48) denied a Miami goal.

Worthy had each of her three shots over a nearly four-minute span blocked in the box, before Vaccari again thwarted the Zips with a save of a strike from Thomas at the 67:50 mark.

After Akron had its next three shots again denied by blocks in the box, the RedHawks were whistled for a foul in the box that resulted in a penalty kick for the Zips. Sophomore Lucia Lobato (Taylor Hills, Ireland) stepped to the line attempting to net the equalizer, but her shot was denied by a diving save from Vaccari.

Sophomore Bailee Bowers (Dublin, Ohio) nearly squared the game at one with a header at the 87:20 mark that went just wide of the net.

IN OUR LAST MEETING BUFFALO (March 7, 2021 - Kent, Ohio):
The University of Akron women's soccer team battled one of the top teams in the Mid-American Conference down to the wire before Kent State garnered a 1-0 triumph past the Zips on March 7 at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio

A 61st-minute (60:01) goal from Yasmine Hall proved to be the game-winning tally, one that lifted the Golden Flashes to victory in the opening leg of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge between the two schools in women's soccer this season.

Kent State posted a 12-7 edge in shots on the afternoon, including 7-2 on goal.

Redshirt junior Aislinn Meaney (Ennis, Ireland) and freshman Katie Stafford (Gahanna, Ohio) directed Akron's offensive attack registering two shots apiece. Vital Kats led all players with a game-high six shots for the Golden Flashes.

Sophomore GK Vanessa Berlin (Gau-Odernheim, Germany) recorded a career-high six saves for the Zips, including four in the opening stanza. Sarah Melen collected a pair of stops in net for Kent State.

The two teams were locked in a scoreless contest at the intermission with the Golden Flashes edging Akron in first-half shots, 6-5.

Kent State scored what proved to be the game-winning tally at the 60:01 mark when Hall found the back of the net off an assist from Amanda Windquist.

Meaney recorded the first shot on goal for the Zips on the day in the 83rd minute (82:06), a strike that was corralled for a save by Melen.

Senior Ryley Watt (Irwin, Pa.) turned in a shot on goal of her own at the 87:20 mark, again thwarted by a stop from Melen.

UP NEXT:
Akron is scheduled to travel to Bowling Green, Ohio for a 7 p.m. tilt at Bowling Green on Thursday, April 1, before hosting Ohio in the squad's home finale on Sunday, April 4 at 4 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Opens Second-Half of MAC Play Battling Kent State

Players Mentioned

Vanessa Berlin

Bailee Bowers

Libby Harper

Charley Kale

Lucia Lobato

Aislinn Meaney

Sarah Nguyen

Carly Pcholinsky

Katie Stafford

Annabel Thomas

Ryley Watt

Sydney Worthy

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