By: Parker Perry

The University of Akron was held scoreless when the women’s soccer team took to the pitch at Kent State and Buffalo this weekend.

Akron started the weekend by traveling to nearby Kent State. The game was played on a muddy, slippery field that had some fans, along with officials, wondering if the game should have been moved to Dix Stadium (Kent State’s football stadium). Nevertheless, both school officials decided to play the game at the scheduled spot.

Kent, who held second place in the MAC East division standings at the start of the weekend, fought the Zips to a draw in the second half. The tie did not last long.

In the 64th minute, Kent State’s Stephanie Hugh launched a shot that deflected off her knee and beat UA goalkeeper Jeny Wolbert and the rest of the Zips defense. The goal did not deflate the Zips though, who quickly gathered themselves and strung together a couple of attacks.

The attacks proved fruitless and the Zips found themselves down by one with 10 minutes remaining. With four minutes remaining, Akron found themselves down by two due to Kent forward Sara Henderson.

Simply finding the ball at her feet, Henderson pushed one easily past the defense and into the net. The goal stifled the Zips and ended any hope they had of coming back, falling 2-0.

After the contest, while giving a lot of credit to the Kent State team, Akron’s Head Coach Chris Pfau still seemed unhappy about his team having to play on the unkempt field.

“To be honest with you, it’s kind of a disgrace that we’d play Division I soccer on this field,” Pfau said.

The Zips had to put their emotion behind them and play in the second match of two as they traveled to Buffalo. The Bulls entered the game in the fifth position of the Mid-American Conference East division, with Akron standing at fourth. And though they owned an 18-12 (14 to five on target) shot difference, Akron was downed 1-0.

It was Buffalo’s senior forward Aubrey Stahl who broke through for her team in the 87th minute that all but iced the match.

Akron will host Ohio on Thursday at 7:30 at First Energy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field in an attempt to reach the post season as a low seed.

Regardless of the outcome, Pfau is very pleased with his team’s effort and his team’s upperclassmen.

“It has been a great thing to watch the development and leadership of our senior class,” Pfau said.