Second-Half Performance Propels Central Michigan Past Akron

Saturday, April 3

Akron, Ohio

1:00 PM

University of Akron

4-5, 1-3MAC

Central Michigan

6-5, 4-1MAC

Central Michigan

Akron

Second-Half Performance Propels Central Michigan Past Akron

April 03 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF) | POST-GAME COMMENTS

AKRON, Ohio - A strong second-half performance propelled Central Michigan (6-5, 4-1 MAC) to a 17-7 triumph past the University of Akron women's lacrosse team in a Mid-American Conference showdown on Saturday, April 3 at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

The Zips (4-5, 1-3 MAC) battled one of the top teams in the conference throughout the first half as Akron entered the intermission trailing 5-3. The Chippewas broke open the tilt netting the first seven goals of the second half en route to posting the victory.

Central Michigan registered a 38-21 edge in shots on the afternoon, including a 24-15 margin in shots on goal.

Redshirt freshman Kaija Kunttu (Zionsville, Ind.) led the Zips with a team-high two goals, while freshmen Noelle Boyd (Murrysville, Pa.), redshirt junior Anna Dennison (Fallston, Md.), redshirt freshmen Alexis Kiefer (West Chicago, Ill.) and Abby McMullen (Medina, Ohio) and freshman Madeline Shewbridge (Cincinnati, Ohio) added one tally each. Natalie Karlen directed the Chippewas' offensive efforts recording a game-high five goals.

Garnering assists for Akron was Boyd, Kunttu, redshirt sophomore Kaylee Riggins (Zionsville, Ind.) and Shewbridge.

Redshirt freshmen GK's Ashley Lapp (Missouri City, Texas) and Abby Lerch (Coraopolis, Pa.) combined to collect six saves for the Zips, while Sierra Savage pulled in eight stops for Central Michigan.

The two teams battled through a defensive showdown in the opening 10 minutes of the match as neither side scored until Shewbridge gave Akron a 1-0 lead off an assist from Boyd at the 9:55 mark.

Central Michigan scored the next four tallies before Boyd and Shewbridge connected again in the 26th minute (25:04) with Boyd scoring her 13th goal of the season to cut the Zips' deficit to 4-2.

After a goal by the Chippewas, Kunttu delivered her sixth tally of the year to send Akron into the intermission trailing 5-3.

Dennison snapped Central Michigan's scoring run to start the final period with her seventh goal of the year at the 12:04 mark.

The Zips also garnered goals from McMullen (13:56), Kunttu (26:35) and Kiefer (28:07) to account for the 17-7 final.

Akron is slated to resume MAC play with a road test at Youngstown State on Friday, April 9 at 7 p.m. before returning home to host Detroit on Tuesday, April 13 in a 2 p.m. showdown at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

AKRON GOALS:
Shewbridge (20:05-1st) (Boyd), Boyd (4:56-1st) (Shewbridge), Kunttu (2:02-1st) (unassisted), Dennison (17:56-2nd) (Riggins), McMullen (16:04-2nd) (unassisted), Kunttu (3:25-2nd) (free position shot), Kiefer (1:53-2nd) (Kunttu)