Zips Host Wright State and Marshall

Thursday, September 2

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Wright State

September 01 | Women's Soccer

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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's soccer team continues its 2021 campaign this week with a pair of non-conference showdowns as the Zips host Wright State on Thursday, Sept. 2, before hosting Marshall at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 5. Akron squares off against the Raiders at 7 p.m. on Thursday, while entertaining the Thundering Herd at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Sept. 2 vs. Wright State | 7 p.m. | FirstEnergy Stadium | Akron, Ohio
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com

Sept. 5 vs. Marshall | 1 p.m. | FirstEnergy Stadium | Akron, Ohio
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com

SCOUTING AKRON:
Akron returns eight starters in 2021, including four of its top-five goal scorers led by junior Sydney Worthy (Groveport, Ohio), who posted team-high marks in goals (3), points (8), shots (13) and game-winners (2). Tallying one goal each for the Zips was redshirt junior Aislinn Meaney (Ennis, Ireland), junior Carly Pcholinsky (South Park, Pa.) and freshman Annabel Thomas (Canonsburg, Pa.). Sophomore GK Vanessa Berlin (Gau-Oderheim, Germany) returns for Akron after starting six games this past spring and recording 35 saves.

Meaney paces the Zips this season in goals (1), points (2), shots (6) and shots on goal (2), while freshman goalkeeper Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) has recorded 20 saves on the campaign.

Akron is led by seventh-year head coach Noreen Herlihy, who maintains a 31-65-14 ledger at the helm of the Zips' program, and a 281-178-44 mark in 27 campaigns overall as a head coach.

SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE:
Wright State enters play this Thursday, standing at 1-1-1 on the campaign after tying 1-1 and falling 1-0, respectively, against Bellarmine and Oklahoma State on Thursday, Aug. 26 and Sunday, Aug. 29.

The Raiders are led by junior Olga Massombo, who paces the squad in goals (1), points (3) and shots on goal (2), while ranking third in overall shots (4). Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Jessika Seward has started all three contests for Wright State owning 12 saves.

The Raiders are led by first-year head coach Travis Sobers, who owns a 1-1-1 mark at the helm of the Wright State program.

	WSU	AKRON
Overall Record	1-1-1	0-3-0
Conference Record	0-0-0	0-0-0
Goals	3	3
Goals-Shot Attempts	3-40	3-18
Goals Per Game	1.00	1.00
Assists	2	2
Shots	40	18
Shot on Goal	6	7
Shots Percentage	.075	.167
Shots on Goal Per Game	.450	.389
Shots Per Game	13.3	6.0
Corner Kicks	8	5
Opponent Corner Kicks	12	25
Penalty Kicks	1-1	0-0
Opponent Penalty Kicks	0-0	0-0

SCOUTING MARSHALL:
Marshall enters play against the Zips on Sunday, Sept. 5 sporting a 0-3-1 mark following a 1-1 tie with Morehead State on Sunday, Aug. 29, and a 2-0 setback against Ohio on Thursday, Aug. 26.

Directing the offensive exploits for the Thundering Herd is freshman Meg Jarvis, who scored a goal in Marshall's tie against Morehead State. She leads the Thundering Herd in goals (1), points (2), shots (7), shots on goal (3). Junior goalkeeper Courtney McVicker has posted 18 saves for the Thundering Herd, while freshman Mira Pastoft has recorded four saves.

Marshall is led by second-year head coach Michael Swan, who maintains a 3-10-1 ledger at the helm of the Thundering Herd program

	MU	AKRON
Overall Record	0-3-1	0-3-0
Conference Record	0-0-0	0-0-0
Goals	2	3
Goals-Shot Attempts	2-36	3-18
Goals Per Game	0.50	1.00
Assists	2	2
Shots	36	18
Shot on Goal	6	7
Shots Percentage	.056	.167
Shots on Goal Per Game	.600	.389
Shots Per Game	9.0	6.0
Corner Kicks	17	5
Opponent Corner Kicks	17	25
Penalty Kicks	0-0	0-0
Opponent Penalty Kicks	1-0	0-0

SERIES HISTORY:
Akron and Wright State are meeting for the second time in program history with the Zips leading the series 1-0. Akron and the Raiders last met in the regular season on Aug. 23, 2009, in Akron with the Zips recording a 2-1 triumph over the Raiders.

The Zips will square off against Marshall for the eighth time in program with Akron owning a 3-2-2 all-time series lead. The two teams last met during the 2013 campaign when Akron and Marshall tied, 1-1, on Sept.1, 2013.

LAST GAME:
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 secured a 3-2 triumph past the Zips on Thursday, Aug. 26.

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.

Aislinn Meaney 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.

Carly Pcholinsky 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 Annabel Thomas.

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.

Goalkeeper Penelope Cuirinier registered a game-high four saves for the Zips.

UP NEXT:
Akron will host Cleveland State on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. before hitting the road with a pair of matches against Youngstown State and Niagara. The Zips will travel to Youngstown State on Sunday, Sept. 12 for a 1 p.m. tilt before heading back on the road on Thursday, Sept. 16, to Niagara Fall, N.Y., as Akron takes on Niagara at 7 p.m.