Western Michigan 3, Detroit 0
Boxscore
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team opened the 2018 regular season with a convincing 3-0 win over Detroit Mercy at the WMU Soccer Complex on Friday night.
The win marked the first career victory for new head coach Sarah Stanczyk, becoming just the second coach in program history to win in their debut. WMU (1-0-0) outshot Detroit Mercy 20-3 overall and had a 12-2 advantage in shots on goal. Colleen McKay, Alyssa Burke and Hannah Kahn all scored their first goals of the season in the victory, while Kahn added two assists for a career-best four-point game. Sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Sargent was called on to make just two saves to earn her first collegiate win and shutout.
Western Michigan took an early 1-0 lead in just the seventh minute. Kahn took the ball into the box toward the goal line and crossed it to the left. McKay was left all alone for the easy goal.
WMU took a 2-0 lead in the 18th minute on a goal by Burke. Kahn played the ball to McKay at the top-right of the box. She fired a shot on net that was saved and Burke cleaned up the rebound.
Later in the first half the Broncos nearly pushed the score to 3-0 but a long shot from McKay went off the right post.
WMU's third goal came in the 63rd minute by Kahn. Burke played a high cross into the box and Kahn settled it before beating the keeper.
Western Michigan now heads to the University of Michigan on Sunday to take on the Wolverines at 1 p.m.
Ball State 2, Fort Wayne 1
Boxscore
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Ball State University soccer team survived a lightning delay that lasted over an hour as well as pouring rain all night, and took down Purdue Fort Wayne, 2-1, in the season opener at Hefner Soccer Complex on Friday night.
BSU tallied 20 shots on the night, 10 of which were on goal. The Cardinals got their scoring from fifth-year senior Allison Abbe and true freshman Tatiana Mason. Tristin Stuteville was solid in goal, saving two of the three shots she faced.
"The weather conditions really impacted the game and turned it into a scrap and a fight, but I felt we rose to the occasion," said head coach Craig Roberts. "The players responded well and fought hard through adversity to get a win. Hats off to PFW and their fight, but I was proud of our girls for finding a way to get a victory."
The Cardinals were on the attack early as Lauren Roll, Taylor Pooley and Sam Kambol all put shots on goal within the opening 10 minutes of the match. The contest was then stopped due to a lightning delay just over 11 minutes in.
After the long delay, Ball State picked up where it left off offensively. The Cardinals continued to put shots on goal as they tallied a total of seven in the opening half of play. In the 38th minute, Jenna Dombrowski made her way into the box and was fouled by the PFW defender to earn a penalty kick. Abbe then stepped up to the spot and buried the PK to give BSU a 1-0 lead. The score would hold through the remainder of the half.
It didn't take the Cardinals long to pick up where they left off in the first half as they sent multiple balls into the box early in the second. In the 54th minute, Mason used some fancy footwork to get by her defender and score the first goal of her Ball State career as BSU went up 2-0.
The Mastodons responded by picking up their attack, and it paid off as Kayla Wisniewski scored a goal in the 70th minute to make it 2-1. PFW continued to go for goal, but Stuteville came up big in goal to preserve the lead.
Ball State improved to 1-0-0 with the win while Purdue Fort Wayne fell to 0-1-0. The Cardinals will be back in action on Friday, August 24, as they travel to take on Eastern Kentucky.
Morehead State 2, Akron 1
Boxscore
AKRON, Ohio– The 2018 women's soccer season is officially underway as the Akron women's soccer team fell to Morehead State, 2-1, despite strong play in the Zips offensive third and outshooting the Eagles, 11-to-7, on Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field.
Junior Ashley Amato (Pittsburgh, Pa.) paced the Zips offensive efforts with three shots and two on goal. Senior's Rachel Baughman (Alliance, Ohio) and Shea O'Brien (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) along with freshman Sydney Worthy (Groveport, Ohio) all chipped in two shots each and three combined shots on goal.
Baughman successfully recorded the first goal of the 2018 season for the Zips and the fifth of her Akron career. Notching her first career assist in her first collegiate contest was freshman midfielder, Carly Pcholinsky (South Park, Pa.).
A pair of freshmen split time in the goal for the Zips in game one of the season. Erin McKinney (Belvidere, Ill.) made her first collegiate start for Akron while Bella Henderson (St. Peters, Mo.) started the second half of the contest for her first collegiate appearance.
Along with Henderson, McKinney, Pcholinsky, and Worthy, sophomore Lexie Kolano (Trafford, Pa.), and freshmen Kayleigh Penton (Vermilion, Ohio), Hailey Clere (Clay, Ohio), and Sydney Ward (Connellsville, Pa.) all made their respective first career appearances in an Akron uniform.
The battle of possession in the first half went in favor of Akron. At the end of the first 45 minutes of play, the Zips held a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks, however, Akron registered just three shots in the period.
Baughman struck the back of the net in the 36' of the match. The Zips earned their sixth corner kick of the game and Pcholisnky stepped to the ball. The freshman curled a ball that bounced past one Akron player and to the foot of Baughman who put the Zips ahead 1-0.
An unfortunate break for Akron knotted the game at one goal apiece in the 39' courtesy after an inadvertent header resulting in an own goal.
Akron again dominated the ball offensively in the second stanza outshooting Morehead State 8-to-4 in the second half.
However, the Eagles would break the deadlocked tie at the 61:24 mark and take a 2-1 lead with 29 minutes left to play.
Following the MSU goal, Akron continued to apply pressure in their offensive end of the field and registered four shots on goal that were turned away by the Eagles keeper.
At the end of the 90 minutes of play, Morehead State came away with the win.
Akron opens the road portion of the 2018 schedule as the Zips travel to the Carolina's for a pair of weekend matches. The Zips travel to Charlotte, N.C., on Friday, Aug. 24 to take on Charlotte before heading to Spartanburg, S.C. for an afternoon affair against Wofford on Sunday, Aug. 26.
Northwestern 2, Miami 1
Boxscore
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Miami soccer team showed promise by standing toe-to-toe with Northwestern on the first day of the Hoosier Challenge Cup on Friday. However, the Wildcats snapped a 1-1 tie early in the second half and held on to deal the RedHawks a 2-1 loss on opening day.
Northwestern (1-0), a second-round NCAA Tournament qualifier a season ago, attempted the first five shots of the contest and outshot Miami (0-1) by a 5-1 margin while getting all three corner kick tries in the first 45 minutes of play. The RedHawks managed to keep the Wildcats mostly to the outside, but a small window into the 18-yard box got NU on the board in the 14th minute when Regan Steigleder fired a shot from 20 yards out that caught the near post and went in to make it a 1-0 contest.
The Red & White did not get frustrated with their limited chances on the attack and started getting closer to the Wildcat net late in the half. On a Northwestern clear, Reagan Fleck won a 50-50 ball in the air to Jordan King, who flicked it to Olivia Winnett as she entered the attacking area. The junior flipped a left-footed shot that went over Northwestern keeper Mackenzie Wood and caught the upper 90 to even it up with just 1:49 left in the half. That tally left the game all squared up at the break.
NU re-established possession in the second half, once again firing the first five shots. Extended ball control in the attacking third put the Wildcats back in front 2-1 when Kayla Sharples converted a back door crossing feed in the 57th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, stormy weather conditions suspended play with 25:09 showing on the clock.
After a lightning delay of over an hour, the teams resumed play. The RedHawks had moments of possession after returning from the locker room, but could not get things to the 18-yard box. The Wildcats fired a few shots the other way that Patricia Koutoulas had to be sharp on, including one diving stop on a shot by Brenna Lovera. With time winding down, Miami tried to push numbers forward, but could not find the equalizer.
"We did a good job of sticking to the game plan and not being individualistic," head coach Courtney Sirmans said. "We worked on keeping the ball in front of us during training and that translated onto the field today. This is a nice first effort, but it's still a loss and I don't want us to get complacent with just a good effort."
The Wildcats outshot the RedHawks 13-1 on the evening and had an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks. Koutoulas stopped four saves in goal while Wood faced only one shot for NU.
The RedHawks conclude their stay at the Hoosier Challenge Cup on Sunday when they take on host Indiana. Opening kick is at 3 p.m.
Milwaukee 3, Northern Illinois 0
Boxscore
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Two goals in the opening 16 minutes helped defending Horizon League champion Milwaukee spoil the season opener for the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team as the Panthers topped the Huskies, 3-0, on Friday night at Engelmann Stadium.
"In the first half we didn't have enough discipline or energy," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "At halftime, we came together, challenged ourselves and responded. The intensity in the second half, the discipline defensively in the second half, the tactical awareness and the energy all improved. We found a little bit of grit in the second half and that went a long way."
The Panthers opened the scoring in the 11th minute on a goal by Lourdes Onwuemeka. After a cross by Haley Johnson from the right, Onwuemeka's initial shot was blocked but the rebound came right back to her and she was able to fire the second opportunity into the back of the net to give Milwaukee the early lead.
Milwaukee doubled its lead just five minutes later. After a turnover by NIU in midfield, McKaela Schmeltzer slipped a pass into the run of Johnson who coolly slotted a shot inside the far post past NIU senior goalkeeper MacKenzie Lee (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) to give the Panthers a 2-0 advantage.
The Panthers added a third before halftime courtesy of Kelli Swenson. A Milwaukee corner from Erin Corrigan was headed to the back post where Schmeltzer played it across the face of goal toward Swenson who reacted first and scored to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead at the intermission.
The Huskies played the Panthers even in the second 45 minutes. NIU created a handful of half-chances after the interval, including a pair from junior Abby Gregg (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) as well as one from sophomore Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse). Sophomore Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North), who came on at halftime, made a pair of stops in the second half, saving a chance by Onwuemeka in the 53rd minute as well as an opportunity from Taylor Hattori in the 82nd minute.
Lee was credited with eight saves in the opening 45 minutes for the Huskies while Donnally made two stops in the second half.
NIU will return to action next Thursday, Aug. 23, as the Huskies host Western Illinois in their home opener. Game time against the Leathernecks is slated for 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh 2, Ohio 1
Boxscore
PITTSBURGH, Pa.– Despite the first career goal from Abby Townsend and a late offensive push, the Ohio women's soccer team (0-1-0) would be unable to overcome an early second half goal, falling to the University of Pittsburgh (1-0-0), 2-1, in the season opener in Pittsburgh.
"We knew when we scheduled our nonconference games we would be challenging our team," head coach Aaron Rodgers said. "Give credit to Pitt for capitalizing on the opportunities they had. It was a great game to watch, I'm sure. We gave an ACC team at their place everything they could handle. It was a tough environment, but we as a staff are very pleased with the amount of chances we created and the fight we had for 90 minutes."
The Bobcats would get the first shot of the game off in the third minute, when Maria Collica (Solon, Ohio) fired a shot that was grabbed by the Pitt keeper. About a minute later, the Panthers would record their first shot of the game, on a ball that would sail high of starting keeper, Erin Beurket (Milford, Ohio).
After Pitt would register the next shot in the 14thminute, Ohio would get a shot in the 16thminute when Townsend (Powell, Ohio) recorded a shot on goal off a corner kick that forced the Panther s' keeper to make the grab.
After a shot from Alivia Milesky (Plain City, Ohio) in the 18thminute, Ohio would strike first in the 20thminute. Townsend would register her first career goal when she would head the ball in on a send in from Sydney Leckie (Medina, Ohio), putting Ohio up, 1-0.
After the goal, the Ohio offense would pick up, with both Leckie and Rianna Reese (Liberty Township, Ohio) recording shots in the 22ndand 28thminute, respectively.
The Panthers would get their third shot of the game, and their first on goal, in the 33rdminute. However, the ball would be snagged by Beurket to keep Ohio's 1-0 advantage.
After another Pitt shot in the 39thminute, the Panthers would get the equalizer in the 41stminute on a goal from Anna Rico, tying the game at 1-1.
Neither team would add on before the end of the half, and both teams would enter halftime with the game tied at 1-1.
Overall, Ohio recorded six shots from six different Bobcats, with four of those shots on goal. In net, Beurket would face two shots and allow one goal and make one save through the first 45 minutes.
Pitt would take the lead early in the second half, when Ashley Moreia would score in the 52ndminute to get the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
Townsend would register the Bobcats' first shot of the second half, a ball that would go wide of the next in the 57thminute. Moments later, Haley Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio) would take a corner kick and Leckie would send the ball wide of the net herself.
With Pitt still leading 2-1, the Panthers would register a shot in 62ndminute, on a ball that would go wide. Then in the 72ndminute, Pitt would record another attempt, but the Bobcat defense would block the shot to keep it a one-goal game.
The 75thminute would see Maeve Maloney (Lebanon, Ohio) register her first shot of the game, but the ball would go wide of the net. Moments later, Maloney would get the ball back and again fire it towards the goal, with it going wide once again. Milesky would then make an attempt herself, sending the ball high and keeping it a 2-1 game.
After back-to-back attempts from Pitt, Leckie would register another attempt for the Bobcats, sending the ball wide of the net in the 80thminute. Moments later, Milesky would fire a shot towards the goal, forcing the Pitt keeper to make the save and keep the game at 2-1.
The Bobcats would make a push in the final minutes of the game. Madelyn Kah (Hamilton, Ohio) would register her first shot of the season in the 86thminute, forcing Pitt to make the save. Then in the 88thminute, Milesky would register another attempt, forcing the Pitt keeper to make the save. Despite the final push, the Bobcats would be unable to get the equalizer and would fall by the final of 2-1.
Overall, the Bobcats recorded 15 shots, with seven of them on goal. Milesky would record four shots, with two on goal, followed by Townsend who had three shots and a goal. Leckie registered and assist and three shots, and Maloney recorded two attempts for Ohio. Reese, Kah, and Collica all recorded shots for Ohio.
In net, Beurket allowed two goals on four attempts, recording two saves in 90 minutes of work in net.
For Pitt, the Panthers registered 12 shots, with four of them on goal. Starting keeper, Amaia Pena allowed one goal and made six saves in 90 minutes of work.
"We are excited to get back on the field on Sunday and compete again," Rodgers said. "This group is so much fun to work with and be around. We will bounce back."
Up next, the Bobcats stay in Pittsburgh to take on Robert Morris Sunday, Aug. 19. First touch is set for 1 p.m.
Purdue 3, Eastern Michigan 0
Boxscore
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team ran out of steam in its season opener against Purdue University Friday night, Aug. 17, on a wet Folk Field. EMU could not shake an early deficit, falling 3-nil.
Senior goalkeeper Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka) faced 20 shots, moving her career total to program-record 721. The Kansas City, Mo. native finished the night with five saves.
Purdue scored off the opening whistle, as Skylurr Patrick tucked a shot in the upper right corner from 20 yards out to put the Biolermakers up, 1-nil, in the opening minute.
Eastern came back strong, ripping three shots and creating a number of other opportunities over the next five minutes, but could not find the equalizer. EMU's best chance of the first half came on a cross along the goal line which just missed the sliding shot attempt of redshirt senior Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson).
Coming out of halftime trailing, 1-nil, the Eagles put pressure on early. Redshirt sophomore Sabrina McNeill (Whitby, Ontario-Henry Street) pulled the trigger from 25 yards out minutes into the period, but Purdue's keeper made a tough save to thwart the Eastern attempt.
The Boilermakers doubled their lead in the second half, netting a goal on a rebound off of a save in the 58th minute. A foul in the box less than 10 minutes later gave Purdue a penalty kick and ultimately a 3-0 edge.
Eastern Michigan wraps up its season-opening roadtrip Sunday, Aug. 19, against Illinois State University. The match between the Eagles and Redbirds is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
Xavier 2, Toledo 1
Boxscore
Cincinnati, Ohio - The Toledo women's soccer team fell 2-1 at Xavier tonight in its opening match of the season. Senior captain Hannah Scafaria scored Toledo's lone goal in a tough non-conference matchup.
"We moved the ball well and we had really good looks in front of the goal. We just have to find a way to finish," Head Coach TJ Buchholz said. "I thought we had moments where we showed that we can be a very dangerous behind teams, and Hannah Scafaria earning her first goal of the season was awesome. We can't let teams back in the game. We let them capitalize on a mistake that tied it up, and toward the end we just didn't finish. It's a hard loss, but we have to bounce back quick and get ready for a good Wright State team."
Xavier came out of the gate hot, quickly forcing play into Toledo's defensive third. The Musketeers dribbled up to the top of the 18-yard box where Grace Bahr took a shot that was dealt away by sophomore goalkeeper Madison Perrin. Following the attack, both teams fought hard for the ball in the midfield, with neither side able to fight through the opposing defensive and find solid scoring opportunities.
Toward the middle of the first half, Xavier found space at the edge of Toledo's box. The Musketeers peppered the goal but each shot was either blocked or calmly dealt with by Perrin.
Toledo opened the scoring with 23 minutes left in the first. Scafaria settled the ball at the top of the box and shot a laser through the fingertips of Xavier's goalkeeper, Toni Bizzarro. UT maintained its lead through the remainder of the first half.
The second half saw an energized Toledo squad hop on Xavier early. Five minutes in, Scafaria quickly found room at the top of the box again but Bizzarro made two key saves to keep her side in the contest. The following two minutes saw UT put another shot on frame and win a corner, but Bizzarro and the Musketeers refused to concede.
Xavier tied things up 12 minutes into the second half off a goal by Brooke Sroka. Sroka got a healthy touch near the left side of Perrin's goal and was able to curl it around to even things at 1-1.
The match then turned into a back-and-forth affair, with both sides' defenses refusing to give in. The tide turned in Xavier's favor with 12 minutes left in the second when Kenadie Carlson was fed a wide pass from Sydney Schembri. The slot pass stranded Perrin on the opposite side of the goal, allowing Carlson to place the ball. Toledo was unable to answer in the closing minutes.
Bowling Green 1, Loyola Marymount 1 (2 OT)
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