The Akron Zips women’s soccer team (4-3-1, 1-0-1 MAC) opened up their MAC schedule with two games over the weekend at First Energy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field, coming away with a draw and a win against two teams from the state up north.

The first of the two games was played Friday night against Central Michigan (7-1-2, 1-0-1 MAC). The Chippewas, who came into Akron as favorites and ranked the fifth best team in the Great Lake Region, opened up strong and kept Akron on their heels early on.

“I thought we started slow and it lasted for the first 20 minutes,” said Akron Head Coach Chris Pfau.

Despite this, Akron was able to keep Central Michigan’s opportunities at a minimum in the first half. Both teams finished with three shots and goals, with neither having too good a chance of scoring. This, though, changed in the second.

Akron came up with four shots in the second. One came when junior midfielder Ashley Hughes maneuvered around two defenders and found herself facing the goal with only Central Michigan junior goalkeeper Stefanie Turner nearby. She continued to crack a shot that was deflected away from the goal and the chance was spoiled.

Central, on the other hand, had seven shots. Three were on goal, with one bouncing off the crossbar that put a good number of traveling CMU fans into depression.

The teams continued through two overtime periods before the game ended in a 0-0 draw. Despite not getting the win, Akron came away with smiles after winning a point.

Sunday, The Zips defeated Eastern Michigan (0-8-1, 0-0-2 MAC) 3-0, with all three scores coming in the second half. The first came off the foot of Hughes, whose strike came after a free kick. It put her in the lead for most goals scored on the year for her team.

By: Parker Perry

“I don’t really think about it,” Hughes said of her leadership. “I just go do my job. I’m a junior, so I have to contribute.”

The next two goals came from sophomore Kelly Deniro and freshman Alexander Frawley. Deniro’s goal was a strike from 25 yards out, while Frawley headed hers in to finish the scoring for the Zips. Overall, Pfau seemed to be very satisfied with this weekend’s results.

“It was the best weekend since I’ve been here,” said Pfau, giving credit to the tough non-conference schedule the program put together in preparation of Mid-American Conference play for his team’s success.

“That non-conference schedule was tough, and it has prepared us for this time of the year,” said Pfau.

Because of the success the Zips had over the weekend, they have accumulated four points, good to tie for second with eight other teams in the MAC.

The Zips will now go on a four-game road trip and travel to Northern Illinois (1-7-2, 0-0-2 MAC), Western Michigan (5-5-0, 1-1-0 MAC), Ball State (6-4-1, 1-1-0 MAC) and Toledo (5-3-1, 2-0-0 MAC).