The Zips (4-6-3, 1-3-1 MAC)  tied their game against the Bobcats of Ohio University (5-4-4, 1-2-2 MAC)  last Friday with a score of 2-2. They then traveled to rival Kent State (9-5-0, 4-2-0 MAC) and lost 2-0.

“Tonight’s game was a roller coaster; you go down early and yet you’re possessing the game … we created some good opportunity and we had some high moments there too, going up 2-1,” said Zips soccer head coach Vernon Croft after the draw against Ohio. Croft added that what the team needs to work on now is staying committed when they are winning.

First to score was Ohio in the 15th minute of play by Holly Harris. However, the Zips would not allow the Bobcats’ lead to last for long. Junior Lani Smith scored her sixth goal of the season right before the 24th minute in the first half. Smith’s goal was assisted by senior Kelly DeNiro, who also has the Zips’ career assists record.

Five minutes later this duo would meet up again. This time DeNiro would score with the assist from Smith, giving the Zips the lead for the first time in the match.

The half would end with the score 2-1 in favor of The University of Akron.

However, Ohio would strike again for the equalizer goal in the 69th minute scored by Allison Cislo. The match will end shortly after that with the score staying at two for both MAC teams.

During the game the Zips out-shot the Bobcats 24-9 while also having more shots on goal than the Bobcats at 9-5. Other stats of the match showed how close this game was, as the Zips and Bobcats had the same number of fouls at eight, corner kicks at three, and offside penalties at two.

On Sunday, the Zips were unable to contain the first-place Flashes. Kent State beat Akron 2-0.

Akron managed to keep the Flashes off the board in the first half, but it was not long into the second half that their defense broke.

Ten minutes into the second half, Kent State’s Jessacca Gironda put the ball into the back of the net. Gironda would score another thirty minutes later to give her team the lead.

The Kent State win also secured them a point in the Akron vs. Kent State Wagon Wheel Challenge that pits the two schools against each other in all sports. Kent State currently leads 1.5-0.

The next home games for the Zips will be against the Chippewas of Central Michigan this Friday night at 7 p.m. and then Sunday against the Bowling Green State University Falcons at noon.