Akron Faces In-State Showdown at Youngstown State

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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's lacrosse team will be challenged by an in-state Mid-American Conference showdown with Youngstown State on Friday, April 9, as the Zips visit Farmer's National Bank Field for a 7 p.m. tilt with the Penguins.

SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE:
Youngstown State enters play against Akron (4-5, 1-3 MAC) owning a 1-4 mark, including a 1-4 ledger in league play following a 17-7 setback at Robert Morris on Saturday, April 3. Freshman Lauren Ottensmeyer leads the Penguins in goals (11), points (13), shots (29) and shots on goal (20). Senior GK Elicia Wells has started all five matches for Youngstown State and has recorded 62 saves. The Penguins are led by first-year head coach Theresa Walton, who is the inaugural head coach in program history.

ZIPS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS:
Redshirt freshman GK Ashley Lapp (Missouri City, Texas) is rated 11th in the NCAA in goals against average (8.92) and 17th in save percentage (496). Redshirt freshmen Alexis Kiefer (West Chicago, Ill.) is ranked 43rd in the country in shots per game (6.67) and 48th in shots on goal per contest (4.89), while sophomore Kaylee Riggins (Zionsville, Ind.) stands 28th in draw controls per outing (5.75).

As a team, Akron is rated 24th in the NCAA in ground ball per game (19.22), 28th in draw control percentage (.554), 30th in caused turnovers (9.33), 34th in scoring defense (10.56) and 39th in save percentage (.448).

A WEEK AGO:
A strong second-half performance propelled Central Michigan 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 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.), Alexis Kiefer and redshirt freshman 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, Kaylee Riggins and Shewbridge.

Redshirt freshmen GK's Ashley Lapp and Abby Lerch (Coraopolis, Pa.) combined to collect 15 saves for the Zips, while Sierra Savage pulled in nine 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.

UP NEXT:
Akron is slated to host Detroit in a 2 p.m. match on Tuesday, April 13 at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

Akron Faces In-State Showdown at Youngstown State

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Players Mentioned

Noelle Boyd

Anna Dennison

Alexis Kiefer

Kaija Kunttu

Ashley Lapp

Abby Lerch

Abby McMullen

Madeline Shewbridge

The University of Akron Athletics