Zips First Win Secures Undefeated Opening Weekend

Sunday, August 20

Akron, OH

1 pm

University of Akron

1-0-1

Wis.-Green Bay

0-2-0

Green Bay

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Zips First Win Secures Undefeated Opening Weekend

August 20 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

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Box Score | Video Highlights

AKRON, Ohio – An offensive outpour by the Zips earned Akron their first win of the 2017 season with a 3-0 victory over Green Bay to secure an undefeated opening weekend at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet field on Sunday afternoon.

Akron (1-0-1) used a combination of attacking offense, including 13 shots, 11 on goal, and a stout defensive effort to earn the win over the Phoenix (0-2-0).

A flurry of goals from the Zips came courtesy of freshman Erin Babcock (Liberty Township, Ohio), sophomore Catie Corrigan (Avon Lake, Ohio), and junior Rachel Baughman (Alliance, Ohio). Babcock, who scored the first goal of the season for the Zips, also notched her first collegiate goal in her second start.

On the defensive side of the ball, freshman goalkeeper Amani Jiu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was once again phenomenal in the goal as she recorded her second consecutive clean sheet in her first college starts along with the help of her defensive line made up of four freshmen. In the contest, the Akron goalie made four saves.

The Zips first goal of the game was set up by freshman Rylie Howman (Ashland, Ohio) whose shot in the 15' of the game was saved by the Phoenix keeper and sent out of play. The forwards shot set up the Zips with a corner kick at the 15:02 mark of the match. Two seconds later, junior Erica Schrader (Blacklick, Ohio) sent a curling shot far into the box. Babcock flew into the box and got a head on the ball that found the back of the net. Along with Babcock's first career goal, Schrader posted her first assist of the season, and her career second.

Just nine minutes following the first score, Akron got back on the scoreboard to increase its lead too 2-0. Freshman Ally Brown (Batavia, Ohio) possessed the ball in the right side of the box. As Brown attempted a cross to her teammate, the Green Bay goalie disrupted the play with a diving effort. As a result, the ball deflected to junior midfielder Shea O'Brien (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) who sent on shot on frame but it was denied by a Phoenix defender. Corrigan was able to corral the ball off the deflection and blasted the ball into the back right corner of the goal.

Freshman Lauren Lambert (Stoutsville, Ohio) nearly collected her first collegiate goal in the 53' and 56'. Both shots on goal were knocked away by a diving keeper.

Akron put the game out of reach with its third goal of the game at the 66:00 mark of the second half. Freshman Eliese LaCourt possessed the ball 30 yards out in the middle of the field. Baughman began sprinting down the right side of the field and into the box. LaCourt led her teammate with a pass into the box and Baughman took a few steps before burying her shot to the left side of the goal.

The Zips head out on their first road trip of the 2017 season when they travel to Chicago, Ill., to take part in the Loyola Tournament. Akron will square-off with DePaul on Friday, Aug. 25, before going up against tournament host, Loyola, on Sunday, Aug. 27.