Zips Offensive Surge Not Enough in 1-0 Loss to Niagara

Sunday, September 3

Akron, OH

1 pm

University of Akron

1-4-1

Niagara

3-1-1

Niagara

Akron

Photo by: David Dermer

Zips Offensive Surge Not Enough in 1-0 Loss to Niagara

September 03 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

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Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio – The Akron women's soccer team blitzed Niagara offensively with 16 shots, including outshooting the Purple Eagles, 11-1, in the second half, but the Zips conceded an early goal as Niagara defeated Akron, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet field.

"Today was tough to concede an early goal because of how the team played in the second half," said head coach Noreen Herlihy. "We came out in the first half slow and it showed. Our mentality was a lot better in the second half but it was not enough to get back in the game. We need to learn from today and take the experience and move forward because if we play like we did in the second half for an entire match, we will compete."

Four Akron players recorded multi-shot performances in the contest, junior Erica Schrader (Blacklick, Ohio), redshirt junior Raechel Eck (Sterling Heights, Mich.), freshman Lauren Lambert (Stoutsville, Ohio), and sophomore Catie Corrigan (Avon Lake, Ohio), with 4, 3, 3, and 2 shots, respectively.

In the first half, the Zips outshot the Purple Eagles, 5-3, but in the final 45 minutes of the game, Akron tallied a plus 10 shot differential (11-1) and won the advantage in possession throughout the half.

Freshman Amani Jiu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) allowed just one goal while making a pair of saves in 90 minutes of action.

Niagara got on the board early in the contest at the 13:09 mark courtesy of Mackenzie Mix first goal of the season that was deflected by the Jiu but was able to sneak into the net.

From that point on, the advantage in possession turned to the Zips.

Akron had a pair of great chances to knot the game up at one apiece in the 21' and 23'. At the 21:30 mark, Niagara was called for a foul on the far right side of the field. Schrader stepped to the ball for a free kick and her cross into the box found Lambert, but her shot to the left side post was saved by the keeper. Just two minutes later, Schrader once again possessed the ball just outside the box and ripped a shot from 25 yards out that hit the cross bar but landed on the goal line before being cleared away.

When the Zips came out of the locker room, they kicked it into another gear and aggressively pushed the ball up field into their offensive third. Two minutes into the second half, freshman Erin Babcock (Liberty Township, Ohio) almost scored her second goal of the year with a header attempt off a corner kick but the ball landed wide of the net.

Akron tallied four shots in a matter of five minutes with two coming on frame. Corrigan made a run down the left side of the field and beat her defender with a swift move to her right and back left before sending a shot on goal that was pulled in by the keeper. In her season debut, Eck posted three shots in two minutes with one sailing high, one blocked by a defender, and the third corralled by the keeper.

Corrigan came within inches of tying the game at one at the 67:52 mark of the contest. The Zips possessed the ball at the top of the box. O'Brien, Eck, and Corrigan did a good job of moving the ball back and forth before Corrigan was able to step into a shot that banked off the left post.

Four more attempts in the final minutes of the game could not find the back of the net for the Zips, resulting in the 1-0 loss.

Akron continues its homestand on Friday, Sept. 8, when the Zips welcome Dayton to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet field. The game time is set for 7 p.m.