Saint Francis Edges Akron, 3-2

Thursday, August 26

Loretto, Pa.

2:00 PM

University of Akron

0-3-0, 0-0-0

Saint Francis

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Akron

Saint Francis (PA)

August 26 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF)

LORETTO, Pa. - It proved to be a tale of two halves for the University of Akron women's soccer team as a defensive first period turned into a scoring bonanza over the game's final 45 minutes as Saint Francis (1-2) secured a 3-2 triumph past the Zips (0-3) on Thursday, Aug. 26.

"We allowed Saint Francis to dictate the tempo in the first half, but we came out in the second half and displayed a much better performance, one that we will build on as we turn our attention to improving for Sunday," Akron head coach Noreen Herlihy commented.

The opening stanza was marked by a defensive effort for both teams, one that resulted in a combined three shots in the first half. Saint Francis made its shots count scoring what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 22nd minute (21:20) when Rita Kendziora found the back of the net.

The Red Flashes took a 1-0 lead into the intermission before extending their margin to 2-0 at the 46:23 mark when Paige Theobald connected on her first goal of the season.

Redshirt junior Aislinn Meaney (Ennis, Ireland) cut the Zips' deficit to 2-1 in the 52nd minute (51:39) when she scored her first goal of the season.

Less than three minutes later a goal from Lauren Persichetty at the 54:33 mark pushed the lead to 3-1 for Saint Francis.

Junior Carly Pcholinsky (South Park, Pa.) capped the scoring in the affair finding the back of the net for the Zips in the 75th minute (74:03) off an assist from freshman Annabel Thomas (Canonsburg, Pa.).

Sparked by a 10-6 edge in second-half shots, Akron finished the contest owning a 10-9 margin in overall shots, including 7-5 in shots on goal.

Meany collected a game-high three shots, while freshman Caitlin Bruni (Canal Fulton, Ohio) added a career-best two shots. Tomke Dziesiaty led the Red Flashes with a team-high three shots.

Freshman goalkeeper Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) registered a game-high four saves for the Zips.

UP NEXT:
Akron opens a three-game homestand entertaining Cleveland State on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium.