Akron’s Comeback Bid Thwarted as Kent State Earns 10-9 Triumph

Saturday, April 2

Kent, Ohio

1:00 PM

University of Akron

2-11

Kent State

5-8

Akron

Kent State

Akron’s Comeback Bid Thwarted as Kent State Earns 10-9 Triumph

April 02 | Women's Lacrosse

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KENT, Ohio - In a rivalry battle showdown between the University of Akron lacrosse team and Kent State it was only fitting that the outcome came down to the final minute with the Golden Flashes securing the game-winning tally with 15 seconds remaining to earn a 10-9 triumph.

Kent State garnered a half point in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge with the win to square the 14-sport competition at 5.0-5.0.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The two teams exchanged the first four goals of the afternoon with the score being squared at two after one period.
• Sophomore Noelle Boyd (Murrysville, Pa.) scored the first of two goals in the quarter at the 10:39 mark of the opening period before finding the net at the 7:15 to square the contest at two.
• Junior Alexis Kiefer (West Chicago, Ill.) gave the Zips a 3-2 lead at the 14:15 mark scoring her 24th goal of the season, the tally came when the Zips were playing a player down.
• Kent State responded registering the final four goals of the quarter to take a 6-3 lead into the intermission.
• Sophomore Anjali Silverheels (Hamburg, N.Y.) opened the second half netting the first of three second-half goals for the Zips at the 14:10 mark off an assist from Boyd to cut Akron's deficit to 6-4.
• The Golden Flashes answered with back-to-back tallies before the Zips closed the period garnering goals from junior Kaija Kunttu (Zionsville, Ind.) and Silverheels at the 1:42 and 1:04 marks, respectively. Junior Abby McMullen (Medina, Ohio) earned the assist on the goal from Silverheels.
• Kunttu pulled Akron within one, 8-7, finding the back of the net at the 13:14 mark of the final period.
• Following a goal by Kent State, Kunttu notched her third goal of the afternoon at the 6:09 mark of the fourth quarter to move the Zips to within one, 9-8.
• Silverheels capped her three-goal performance recording the equalizer with 49 seconds left in the game.
• The Golden Flashes spoiled the Zips' comeback netting the game-winning tally with 15 seconds left in regulation.
• Boyd and Kiefer led Akron with a team-high seven shots apiece, while Kunttu added six shots of her own.
• Sophomore GK Ashley Lapp (Missouri City, Texas) made 13 saves for the Zips for her fourth double-digit save performance of the season.

AKRON GOALS: Boyd (10:39-1st), Boyd (7:15-1st), Kiefer (14:15-2nd) (Man-Down), Silverheels (14:10-3rd) (Boyd), Kunttu (1:42-3rd), Silverheels (1:04-3rd) (McMullen), Kunttu (13:14-4th), Kunttu (6:09-4th), Silverheels (0:49-4th) (Kiefer)

UP NEXT:
Akron welcomes Youngstown State to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field for a 2 p.m. tilt on Saturday, April 9.