Akron Set to Host Ball State

Thursday, September 26

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Ball State

Buy Tickets

September 25 | Women's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's soccer team returns to FirstEnergy Stadium for a Mid-American Conference showdown with Ball State on Thursday (Sept. 26) at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the contest against the Cardinals 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. Ball State | Sept. 26 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | Live Video

HEAD COACHES
Ball State: Josh Rife (Indiana), Overall Record: 47-34-14 (Sixth Season), Record at Ball State: 47-34-14 (Sixth Season)
Akron: Jen Simonetti (Dayton, 2005), Overall Record: 53-64-16 (Ninth Season), Record at Akron: 11-25-7 (Third Season)

SCOUTING AKRON
Off to their best start since the 2007 campaign, the Zips stand at 5-2-2 on the campaign, including 0-2 in the MAC following a 1-0 setback at Central Michigan on Sunday (Sept. 22).

A first-half goal proved to be all the scoring the Chippewas needed en route to posting a 1-0 triumph over Akron. Redshirt junior GK Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) collected three saves for Akron.

Senior Ella Hadley (Concord, Ohio), junior Emma King (Akron, Ohio), freshman Allie McMillen (Shreve, 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, one, one and one, respectively. Eight Akron players have recorded an assist on the campaign led by a team-high two from Pentz. Hadley paces the squad in shots (16) and shots on goal (7), while Cuirinier and sophomore GK Sara Bower (Cincinnati, Ohio) own 24 and 12 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), sophomore Shani Sirota (Raanana, Israel), 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).

EIGHT ZIPS HONORED ON SENIOR DAY
The Zips' contest versus Saint Francis on Sept. 15 marked Senior Day for eight Zips as seniors Lacey Bernick (Huntingdon, Pa.), Caitlin Bruni (Canal Fulton, Ohio), Maxima Carlitz (Stolberg, Germany), Quinn Casey (Powell, Ohio), Ella Hadley, Clara Krohn (Akron, Ohio) and Morgan Shansky (Oakdale, Pa.) and Penelope Cuirinier were honored in pregame ceremonies.

AKRON NOTES
• Fourteen of the 23 matches between Akron and Ball State have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips posting one win and three draws in those matches.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in five all-time meetings with Ball State.
• Penelope Cuirinier was tabbed by the MAC as its Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 17.
• The Zips are off to their best start to a campaign at 5-2-2 since the 2007 season, while recording the squad's initial seven-game unbeaten streak since 2007. The unbeaten streak matched the longest in program history set during both the 2006 and 2007 campaigns.
• Akron has matched its 2006 squad as the only Zips' teams to post an unbeaten record in non-conference play.
• Akron posted the second most shutouts in a non-conference campaign in school history, trailing only the 2006 squad that registered six straight to open the 2006 season.
• Akron posted five consecutive shutouts for the first time since the 2009 campaign.
• The four 1-0 clean sheet victories this season represent the second-highest total in program history matching identical marks in 2007, 2009 and 2011. The 2006 Akron team holds the top mark with six 1-0 wins.
• The five shutouts by the Zips are the most for Akron in a season since the 2019 season.
• The Zips posted shutouts in five consecutive contests and did not surrender a goal in more than 606 minutes (606:05).
• Akron is ranked 15th in the NCAA in save percentage (.886), 26th in goals against average (.556) and 45th in shutout percentage (.556).
• Penelope Cuirinier is rated 14th in the NCAA in save percentage (.893) and 23rd in goals against average (0.462).
• Six different Zips have scored a goal this season, including one newcomer.
• Eighteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including four newcomers.
• Nine Akron newcomers have appeared in a match for the Zips this season.
• Penelope Cuirinier collected her 175th career save against Cleveland State (Sept. 12) and enters play versus Ball State with 186 career saves.
• Akron's victory over Oakland (Aug. 22) marked the 50th career coaching victory for head coach Jen Simonetti.
• Ella Hadley enters play versus Ball 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 24 points.
• King needs one goal to enter the top 10 in program history in career goals having amassed 10 in her four seasons.
• Cuirinier is ranked third, third, fifth and sixth, 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 BALL STATE
Ball State enters action against Akron at 5-4-0 on the campaign, including 0-2-0 in the Mid-American Conference following a 1-0 loss at Kent State on Sunday (Sept. 22).

The Cardinals are led by junior Delaney Caldwell, who paces the team in goals (5), points (17), shots on goal (10) and game-winners (3), while rating second in assists (5) and shots (23). Junior GK Grace Konopatzki has pulled in 11 saves on the campaign and owns a 1.20 goals against average.

The Cardinals are rated 17th in the NCAA in assists per game (2.78), 22nd in total assists (25), 24th in points per contest (7.67), 30th in scoring offense (2.44), 33rd in total points (69) and 39th in total goals (22).

Individually, Caldwell is ranked 21st in the NCAA in points per game (1.89), 22nd in total assists (5) and total points (17), 41st in total goals (6) and 48th in goals per match (0.67). Additionally, junior Addie Chester is rated 10th in total assists (6), 27th in points per outing (1.78) and 31st in total points (16).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Ball State are meeting for 24th time in program history with the Cardinals leading the series by an 15-2-6 margin. Ball State edged the Zips, 2-1, on Oct. 12, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

UP NEXT
Akron visits Toledo in a 1 p.m. tilt on Sunday (Sept. 29).

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.