Akron Hosts Rival Kent State in Opener of Two-Match Homestand

Wednesday, February 23

Akron, Ohio

4:00 PM

University of Akron

Kent State

Akron Hosts Rival Kent State in Opener of Two-Match Homestand

February 22 | Women's Lacrosse

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KENT STATE: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SAINT FRANCIS (PA.): LIVE STATS

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron lacrosse team is set to open a two-match homestand this week as the Zips welcome rival Kent State and Saint Francis (Pa.) to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field for contests on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, Feb. 27, respectively.

Akron battles rival Kent State on Wednesday in a 4 p.m. tilt in the opening leg of two showdowns on the year between the Zips and Golden Flashes as part of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge, before the Zips close their homestand battling the Red Flash in a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday.

CRYSTAL CLINIC ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE:
A half point in the 14-sport Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge will be on the line when Akron battles Kent State on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The rivalry series between the Zips and Golden Flashes is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Through nine events this season, the Golden Flashes lead the series, 4.0-2.0.

Since the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include 14 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. To learn more about the rivalry and follow the results and standings, visit: www.WagonWheelChallenge.com

SCOUTING AKRON:
Akron is led offensively by junior Alexis Kiefer (West Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore Noelle Boyd (Murrysville, Pa.), who own 18 and 13 shots, respectively. Kiefer and freshman Izzy Szejk (Camp Hill, Pa.) have recorded a team-high five goals apiece, while Boyd has posted team-best marks in draw controls (20), ground balls (14) and assists (2), while ranking second in caused turnovers (4) and third in goals (2) and points (4). Sophomore GK Ashley Lapp (Missouri City, Texas) has turned in 24 saves for Akron on the year.

Kiefer is ranked second in the MAC in shots per contest (6.00), while she and Szejk are rated fourth in goals per game (1.67) and sixth in points per contest (1.67). Junior Sarah Pattison (Cincinnati, Ohio) owns a league-best three assists and leads the league in assists per outing (1.00), while Boyd and freshman Kylie Harris (Lake Norman, N.C.) are rated seventh and 10th, respectively, in assists per game. Lapp paces the conference in goals against average (12.00) and saves per tilt (8.00), while ranking third in save percentage (.400).

Akron returns 11 starters from their second season including Boyd, senior Anna Dennison (Fallston, Md.), junior Julia Frombach (Avon, Ohio), sophomore Jacqueline Glassey (Kildeer, Ill.), Kiefer, Lapp, juniors Kaija Kunttu (Zionsville, Ind.), Abby McMullen (Medina, Ohio), Sarah Rech (Gibsonia, Pa.) and Jenna Ridener (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Silverheels.

Kiefer started all 15 matches for Akron in 2021 en route to directing the Zips' efforts offensively registering team-high marks in goals (48), points (53) and shots (110), while ranking second in ground balls (35) and defensive controls (46). She finished second in the MAC in goals (48) and goals per game (3.20), third in shots (110) and shots per outing (7.33) and fourth in points (53) and points per contest (3.53).

McMullen is Akron's top-returner in assists (12), while Boyd paced the squad in draws controlled (37).

SCOUTING KENT STATE:
Kent State has dropped it initial two matches of the season following a 15-4 setback versus Duquesne on Sunday, Feb. 20. Junior Kenzie Sklar directs the Golden Flashes' offensive attack with team-high marks in goals (7), points (7), shots (13), shots on goal (8), grounds balls (4) and caused turnovers (4). Senior Abby Jones leads Kent State in assists (1) and draw controls (10). Junior GK Madison Flannigan has collected 16 saves on the campaign for Kent State. The Golden Flashes are led by fourth-year head coach Brianne Tierney, who owns a 30-58 ledger in seven years as a head coach, including a 7-33 ledger at Kent State.

SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS:
Saint Francis enters its week with a 0-1 ledger on the campaign ahead of matches versus Canisius and Akron on Wednesday and Sunday, Feb. 23, and Feb. 27, respectively. Senior Autumn McHenry owns team-high marks in goals (2), points (2), shots (3), shots on goal (3), draw controls (4) and caused turnovers (2), while ranking second in ground balls (2). Senior GK Elyssa Enrique has started the lone match for Saint Francis and recorded nine saves. The Red Flash are led by third-year head coach Tracy Coyne, who owns a 299-206 ledger in 33 years as a head coach, including a 7-14 mark at Saint Francis.

BOYD NAMED MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Akron sophomore midfielder Noelle Boyd was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Boyd is the second consecutive Zip to be recognized for weekly conference accolades this season.

Boyd turned in a solid week helping the Zips' defensive efforts in a pair of road matches at Wofford and Gardner-Webb. She collected team-high marks in draw controls (16), ground balls (11) and caused turnovers (4), while adding a pair of goals and one assist on the strength of seven shots (six on goal).

Boyd posted 11 draw controls, four ground balls and a caused turnover with a goal versus Wofford, before adding seven ground balls, five draw controls, three caused turnovers and a goal and assist on two shots (both on goal) against Gardner-Webb.

On the season, she paces Akron in ground balls (14), draw controls (20) and assists (2), while ranking second in caused turnovers (4) and shots (13), and adding a pair of goals.

ZIPS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS:
Goalkeeper Ashley Lapp rated 23rd in the NCAA in saves (24), 45th in goals against average (12.00) and 46th in saves per game (8.00). Jenna Ridener is ranked 24th in caused turnovers per contest (2.00), while Alexis Kiefer is 71st in shots per tilt (6.00) and 74th in shots on goal per game (4.67).

As a team, Akron is rated 12th in the NCAA in ground ball per game (21.67), 28th in caused turnovers (9.67), 58th in scoring defense (12.00), 70th in save percentage (.400), 71st in shots per contest (25.33) and 72nd in shots on goal per outing (18.00).

IN OUR LAST MEETING WITH KENT STATE (APRIL 20, 2021 - AKRON, OHIO):
A dominant first-half performance propelled Akron to a decisive 17-6 triumph over rival Kent State on April 20, 2021, at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

Full match recap (click here)

IN OUR LAST MEETING WITH SAINT FRANCIS (FEB. 28, 2021 - LORETTO, PA.):
A goal by Alexis Kiefer with 35 seconds left in regulation propelled the University of Akron women's lacrosse team to the first-ever victory in program history, an 8-7 triumph, over Saint Francis on Feb. 28, 2021, in Loretto, Pa.

Full match recap (click here)

UP NEXT:
Akron opens the road portion of its Mid-American Conference schedule with a 1 p.m. showdown at Youngstown State on March 3 before hosting Cincinnati at 12 p.m. on March 6.