The University of Akron Athletics

Women’s Soccer Prepares for Road Match at Oakland
August 24 | Women's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio- The Akron women's soccer team (1-0-1) will be back on the road as the Zips travel to Rochester, Mich. to take on Oakland on Thursday, Aug. 25 for a 7 p.m. game at the OU Soccer Field.
GAME INFO
Under the direction of first-year head coach Jen Simonetti, the Zips return 16 players from last season's squad, including eight players who started 10 or more games. Akron is led by sophomore Katie Stafford (Gahanna, Ohio) who paced the team with four goals, an assist, and six shots on goal last season, while sophomore Sarah Nguyen (Irwin, Pa.) led the team with four assists and eight shots on goal. In the net, the Zips return sophomore goalie Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) who made 18 starts in goal and registered 94 saves.
The Zips welcome three true freshmen to the squad in Ari Mahoney (Medina, Ohio), Emma King (Akron, Ohio), and Kristina Syragakis (Quebec, Canada), while also adding three transfers in Clara Krohn (Akron, Ohio), Merica Abnathy (Lakeland, Fla.), and Lacey Bernick (Huntingdon, Pa.).
The Zips are coming off a 2-2 draw against Marshall on Sunday. Sophomore Morgan Pentz (Broadview Heights, Ohio) delivered the first goal that put the Zips ahead 1-0 before Emma King (Akron, Ohio) scored her first collegiate goal for the equalizer.
On the season, Caitlin Bruni (Canal Fulton), Pentz, and King hold all three goals scored this season for Akron off a combined eight shots.
Goalkeeper Cuirinier has recorded six shots in 29 shots faced.
SCOUTING OAKLAND
The Golden Grizzlies stand 2-0 overall for the first time since the 2014 season after earning a 1-0 win over DePaul and a 2-0 win over Kent State. Against Kent State, Oakland was led by Sami Lopez and Julianna Karkaba who each scored a goal.
Lopez leads the team with six shots and a goal, while Jayna Fraser has fired off four shots and scored one goal.
In the net, Noemi Stadelmann has recorded eight saves on 16 total shots faced.
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Oakland will meet for the third time in program history with the Golden Grizzlies holding a 2-0 all-time series advantage. The last time the two teams met was back in 2009 in Akron with the Zips falling, 2-1.
About Zips Athletics
Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200 degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in community, and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.
Follow women's soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
GAME INFO
- Akron at Oakland | Aug. 25 | 7 PM | OU Soccer Field ( Live Stats )
Under the direction of first-year head coach Jen Simonetti, the Zips return 16 players from last season's squad, including eight players who started 10 or more games. Akron is led by sophomore Katie Stafford (Gahanna, Ohio) who paced the team with four goals, an assist, and six shots on goal last season, while sophomore Sarah Nguyen (Irwin, Pa.) led the team with four assists and eight shots on goal. In the net, the Zips return sophomore goalie Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) who made 18 starts in goal and registered 94 saves.
The Zips welcome three true freshmen to the squad in Ari Mahoney (Medina, Ohio), Emma King (Akron, Ohio), and Kristina Syragakis (Quebec, Canada), while also adding three transfers in Clara Krohn (Akron, Ohio), Merica Abnathy (Lakeland, Fla.), and Lacey Bernick (Huntingdon, Pa.).
The Zips are coming off a 2-2 draw against Marshall on Sunday. Sophomore Morgan Pentz (Broadview Heights, Ohio) delivered the first goal that put the Zips ahead 1-0 before Emma King (Akron, Ohio) scored her first collegiate goal for the equalizer.
On the season, Caitlin Bruni (Canal Fulton), Pentz, and King hold all three goals scored this season for Akron off a combined eight shots.
Goalkeeper Cuirinier has recorded six shots in 29 shots faced.
SCOUTING OAKLAND
The Golden Grizzlies stand 2-0 overall for the first time since the 2014 season after earning a 1-0 win over DePaul and a 2-0 win over Kent State. Against Kent State, Oakland was led by Sami Lopez and Julianna Karkaba who each scored a goal.
Lopez leads the team with six shots and a goal, while Jayna Fraser has fired off four shots and scored one goal.
In the net, Noemi Stadelmann has recorded eight saves on 16 total shots faced.
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Oakland will meet for the third time in program history with the Golden Grizzlies holding a 2-0 all-time series advantage. The last time the two teams met was back in 2009 in Akron with the Zips falling, 2-1.
About Zips Athletics
Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200 degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in community, and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.
Follow women's soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
Players Mentioned
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Monday, October 27
2025 Akron Zips Women's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Western Michigan - 10/23/25
Saturday, October 25
2025 Akron Zips Women's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Central Michigan - 10/9/25
Friday, October 10
























