Women’s Soccer

The University of Akron women’s soccer team failed to score in its first two Mid-American Conference games over the weekend, tying Miami (OH) on Friday 0-0 and losing to Ball State on Sunday 1-0. The Zips now sit at 3-6-1 on the season.

Goaltending was the key to Friday’s match. The Zips’ Annabelle Hegeman and the Redhawks’ Vic Maniaci battled all game, including the two 15-minute overtime periods the teams would play following 90 scoreless minutes. Hegeman (3-5-1) stopped all four shots she faced while Maniaci (2-3-1) made five saves.

The Zips were led by Erica Schrader and Amy Rogozinski on offense. Schrader led the team with four shot attempts, two of which were turned away by Maniaci. Rogozinski was able to get three shots off, and each shot was on target.

On Sunday in Muncie, Indiana, Hegeman was again brilliant, stopping four of five shots. However, Ball State’s Tristin Stuteville improved to 4-1 on the season by making three saves.

The difference in the game was a goal from the Cardinals’ Sam Kambol, her third goal of the season. The goal came in the 53rd minute, and Akron was unable to fight back and tie the game. Shea O’Brien, Hannah Werth, and Sarah Sivic each recorded shots on goal for the Zips.

Akron will play its first home conference game of the season on Friday when it hosts the Toledo Rockets at 7 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

Women’s Tennis

The University of Akron women’s tennis team hosted the Akron Shootout over the weekend in its first home action of the season.

The Zips opened up their part of the action with doubles play against Siena. The duo of Ariadna Blinova (Riga, Latvia) and Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) got the Zips off to a good start by beating Siena’s Ali Garrity and Mitsuki Fukamachi 6-1.

Next, the combination of Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas) and Carolina Maksimava (Mogilev, Belarus) beat Ivana Boberic and Natalie Weaver 7-5.

Akron then got its first loss of the day as Shannon Newnes (Romford, London) and Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal) fell 6-4 to Juliana Goehner and Anessa Leyva.

The Zips then dominated singles play against Youngstown State, winning all six matches.

First, Blinova defeated Dominika Lackova 6-2, 6-2. Geier then beat Sofia Macias 6-3, 6-0. Maksimava fought hard to beat Noelly Longi Nsimba 6-4, 4-6, 1-0. Pedroso won 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 over Ana Stroe. It was the first career win for freshman Pedroso.

Finally, Knezevich and Newnes won as well. Knezevich won 6-3, 3-6, 1-0, while Newnes dominated Elise Eckman 6-1, 6-0.

On Saturday, the Zips won every match, including three doubles matches and six singles matches. The combinations of Blinova/Geier, Knezevich/Maksimava, and Newnes/Pedroso each beat their opponents from Cleveland State, while all six then won again in their respective singles matches vs. Siena.

Finally on Sunday, a fatigued Zips’ unit won two of three doubles matches and four of six singles matches.

The Zips now look forward to the Wright State Invitational, which takes place this Friday and Saturday.

Women’s Volleyball

The University of Akron women’s volleyball team dropped two games over the weekend, losing 3-0 at Ohio University on Friday and 3-1 at Kent State on Saturday. The Zips now sit at 5-9 on the season, and are 0-2 against conference opponents.

The Zips lost to the Bobcats on Friday by scores of 25-15, 25-23, and 27-25. Patience Brown led the way for Akron with eight kills, while the Bobcats’ Ali Lake dominated with 17 kills.

Then on Saturday, the Zips lost to the Golden Flashes by scores of 25-23, 21-25, 25-16, and 25-20. Akron’s Amanda Bedell recorded 11 kills to lead the way for the Zips, while the Flashes’ Kelsey Bittinger led the match with 17 kills.

The Zips will get back at it on Thursday, Sept. 29 for a 7 p.m. showdown with the University at Buffalo Bulls in their first home conference game of the season.