Zips Close Out Non-Conference Play at Niagara

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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's soccer team closes out non-conference play on Thursday, Sept. 16 as the Zips travel to Niagara for a 7 p.m. showdown.

Sept. 16 vs. Niagara | 7 p.m. | Niagara Field | Niagara, N.Y.
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
ESPN+: https://es.pn/3EgYTVb

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.

Akron enters Thursday's game 2-5-0 overall after winning back-to-back games last week. On Thursday, Sept. 9, the Zips claimed a 1-0 victory over Cleveland State for their first win of the season. On Sunday, Akron hung on to a 3-2 victory over Youngstown State for its second win in a row. Freshman Katie Stafford (Gahanna, Ohio) paced the Zips' offensive efforts netting a pair of goals in the win against Youngstown State, and scored a lone goal in the win over Cleveland State.

Stafford paces the Zips this season in goals (3), points (6), and shots on goal (4), while Meaney leads the squad in shots (15) and shots on goal (7). Freshman goalkeeper Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) has recorded 32 saves on the campaign.

Akron is led by seventh-year head coach Noreen Herlihy, who maintains a 33-66-14 ledger at the helm of the Zips' program, and a 283-179-44 mark in 27 campaigns overall as a head coach.

STAFFORD EARNS MAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stafford was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Stafford helped the Zips go 2-0 last week in wins over Cleveland State and Youngstown State. In the game against Cleveland State, Stafford scored her first career goal off a corner kick and led the Zips to their first win of the season. On Sunday against Youngstown State, Stafford netted two goals to push Akron past Youngstown State, 3-2. Stafford broke open the scoreless contest after she was awarded a penalty kick and scored in the 42nd minute of the game as she rifled her shot into the right corner of the goal. She completed scoring a brace with her second tally at the 50:02 mark.

SCOUTING NIAGARA:
Niagara enters plays this Thursday, Sept. 9, standing at 5-1 on the campaign after claiming a 3-2 win in OT on Sunday, Sept. 12 at St. Bonaventure, and topping Duquesne, 2-1 on Thursday, Sept. 9.

The Purple Eagles are led by junior Florence Vaillancourt who paces the squad in goals (6), points (16) and shots (14) and shots on goal (12). Freshman goalkeeper Felicia Grufman has played in four games and recorded a team-high 14 saves.

The Purple Eagles are led by 23rd-year head coach Peter Veltri, who maintains a 198-174-35 ledger at the helm of the Niagara program.

	NU	AKRON
Overall Record	5-1-0	2-5-0
Conference Record	0-0-0	0-0-0
Goals	19	7
Goals-Shot Attempts	19-84	7-70
Goals Per Game	3.17	1.00
Assists	19	5
Shots	84	47
Shot on Goal	52	70
Shots Percentage	.226	.100
Shots on Goal Per Game	8.67	4.57
Shots Per Game	14.0	10.0
Corner Kicks	19	20
Opponent Corner Kicks	17	34
Penalty Kicks	1-1	1-1
Opponent Penalty Kicks	1-1	1-1

SERIES HISTORY:
The Zips will square off against Niagara for the sixth time in program with Akron owning a 1-3-1 all-time series record. The two teams last met during the 2019 campaign when the Zips bested the Purple Eagles, 2-1, on Aug. 29, 2019.

LAST GAME:
Stafford netted two goals to give Akron the 3-2 victory over Youngstown State for the Zips' second-consecutive win.

Stafford broke open the scoreless contest after she was awarded a penalty kick and scored in the 42^ndminute of the game as she rifled her shot into the right corner of the goal. She completed scoring a brace with her second tally at the 50:02 mark, assisted by freshman Sarah Nguyen (Irwin, Pa.)

The Zips pushed the lead to 3-0 as freshman Calli Swisher (Alliance, Ohio) scored her first career goal at the 66:20 mark of an assist from Annabel Thomas (Canonsburg, Pa.).

Cuirinier tallied six saves for the Zips.

UP NEXT:
Akron will open conference play on the road as the Zips travel to rival Kent State on Thursday, Sept. 23 for a 7 p.m. game. A half-point in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge will be on the line when Akron battles Kent State.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Vanessa Berlin

Penelope Cuirinier

Aislinn Meaney

Sarah Nguyen

Carly Pcholinsky

Katie Stafford

Calli Swisher

Annabel Thomas

Sydney Worthy

The University of Akron Athletics