The University of Akron women’s soccer team is ready to compete for the season under new coach Noreen Herlihy.

Last year, the Zips women soccer team finished last in the MAC with a record of 6-12-1 and a conference record of 2-9. Even though the season record didn’t say much about the team, the Zips fought hard and won against some of the top talent in women’s soccer.

To start off the 2015 season, Akron will host Bryant on Friday, August 21. The following weeks have more non-conference matches with Niagara, Cleveland State, St. Bonaventure, Cornell, Pittsburgh, Lipscomb and are finishing with The University of Tennessee at Martin. This is a tough schedule for the Zips as the majority of the teams Akron will play against had a winning or .500 season last year. Bryant was the only team on the Zips schedule who had a worse 2014 season than UA with a finish of 4-13-2.

Akron’s MAC play begins with a match against rivals Kent and Ohio State. From there, Akron goes on the road for the first half of October playing teams from both divisions including MAC West Champs Eastern Michigan, a team Akron up-set during the last season.

The Zips will follow up that match with matches against Central Michigan and Toledo at home, before road trips to Ball State and Miami (Oh). The finale of the season brings the reigning MAC Champions, Buffalo, into town for a scheduled afternoon match.
Akron will look to compete this season with new head coach Herlihy and new talent coming in on the team with Annabelle Hegeman, Sydney Sleek, and Samara Yurchak. Other new Zips and several players who remain on the team from last year’s campaign will also make a crucial impact in their performance. Akron has the talent now it’s time to see if they can dig deep and fight hard through this season.