Akron Set to Host Cleveland State

Thursday, September 12

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Cleveland State

Buy Tickets

September 11 | Women's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's soccer team opens a three-game homestand welcoming Cleveland State to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 7 p.m. match on Thursday (Sept. 12).

Tickets for the contest against the Vikings are available for purchase at http://www.gozips.com/Tickets. Fans are asked to park in Lots 6, 9 and 10 surrounding InfoCision Stadium and the Stile Athletics Field House. For complete parking information click here.

GAME INFO
Akron vs. Cleveland State | Sept. 12 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | Live Video

HEAD COACHES
Cleveland State: Mark Sappington (Wheeling Jesuit), Overall Record: 0-5-1 (First Season), Record at Cleveland State: 0-5-1 (First Season)
Akron: Jen Simonetti (Dayton, 2005), Overall Record: 51-62-16 (Ninth Season), Record at Akron: 9-23-7 (Third Season)

SCOUTING AKRON
Off to their best start since the 2008 campaign, the Zips extended their unbeaten streak to five to open the season following a 0-0 draw at Robert Morris on Sept. 5.

Akron registered its third consecutive shutout against the Colonials as redshirt junior GK Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) collected a pair of saves en route to earning the clean sheet.

Senior Ella Hadley (Concord, Ohio), redshirt senior Morgan Pentz (Broadview Heights, Ohio), sophomore Anna Simmons (Manassas, Va.) and sophomore Rachel Wenzel (Akron, Ohio) have accounted for the Zips' goals this season having netted two, one, one and one, respectively. Hadley, Pentz, Rogowski, sophomore Shani Sirota (Raanana, Israel) and Wenzel have recorded Akron's assists on the campaign. Hadley paces the squad in shots (14) and shots on goal (6), while redshirt junior GK Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) and sophomore Sara Bower (Cincinnati, Ohio) own 10 and three saves, respectively, in net for Akron.

The Zips under the leadership of third-year head coach Jen Simonetti returned nine starters in 2024, including senior team captains Katie Stafford (Gahanna, Ohio) and Pentz.

The Zips boast 11 newcomers to the squad as donning the Akron uniform this fall will be junior Kaylen Goddard (Mechanicsville, Md.), sophomore Kellyn Fausel (New Philadelphia, Ohio), Sirota, redshirt freshman Nadia Zaborowski (Noblesville, Ind.) and freshmen Kailyn Biecker (Wadsworth, Ohio), Addison Lambert (Galena, Ohio), Allie McMillen (Shreve, Ohio), Kaitlyn Rogowski (Hilliard, Ohio), Elisabeth Rupp (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Eesha Sutharshan (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Ariana Vakos (Avon, Ohio).

AKRON NOTES
• The Zips are off to their best start to a campaign at 3-0-2 since the 2008 season, while recording the squad's initial five-game unbeaten streak since 2018.
• Five of the 12 matches between Akron and Cleveland State have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips owning a 4-1-0 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored Cleveland State, 23-9 all-time, including 10-5 in six home matches.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in six all-time meetings with Cleveland State.
• The Zips have posted shutouts in three consecutive contests and have not surrendered a goal in nearly 350 minutes (349:10).
• Akron has posted back-to-back-to-back shutouts for the first time since the 2011 campaign.
• Akron is ranked 35th in the NCAA in save percentage (.875), 36th in goals against average (0.40) and 37th in winning percentage (.800) and shutout percentage (.600)
• Akron's victory over Oakland (Aug. 22) marked the 50th career coaching victory for head coach Jen Simonetti.
• Ella Hadley enters play versus Cleveland State ranked ninth in career scoring at Akron with 26 points, while junior Emma King (Akron, Ohio) is nearing the top-10 in career scoring with 21 points.
• King needs two goals to enter the top-10 in program history in career goals having amassed nine in her three campaigns.
• Cuirinier is ranked third, fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Akron women's soccer record book in career saves, shutouts, wins and goals against average.
• Morgan Pentz led the Zips with a pair of multi-goal games a season ago tallying a pair of tallies at Cleveland State and Eastern Michigan.

SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE
Cleveland State enters action against Akron at 0-5-1 on the campaign following a 2-0 setback against Bowling Green on Sunday (Sept. 8).

The Vikings are led by junior Mayra Sesmas, who paces the team in goals (1), assists (1), points (3), shots (9) and shots on goal (5). Sophomore GK Madison Ott has pulled in 36 saves on the campaign and owns a 2.50 goals against average.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Cleveland State are meeting for 13th time in program history with the Zips owning a 9-3 series advantage. Akron earned a 3-1 road decision versus the Vikings on Aug. 18, 2023.

UP NEXT
Akron hosts Saint Francis for Senior Day on Sunday (Sept. 15) at 2 p.m.

AKRON ATHLETICS NOW CASHLESS
The University of Akron Athletics Department announced its transition to cashless payments for all ticketing, concessions, and merchandise purchases at all Akron athletic venues, concession stands, and gear shops, beginning with the start of the 2024-25 sports seasons. For more information click here.