Sunday’s MAC Women’s Soccer Results
Eastern Michigan 4, Northern Illinois 1
Western Michigan 2, Ball State 0
Akron 2, Ohio 0
 
Story courtesy of MAC Sports Information Departments
 
Eastern Michigan 4, Northern Illinois 1
Box Score
 
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon celebrating the seniors of the program, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team sent the class out with a 4-1 victory over Northern Illinois at Scicluna Field, April 4.
 
The Eagles improved to 6-2 on the season, while the Huskies dropped to 1-7. The win also completed Eastern's season sweep of NIU, having previously bested Northern, 3-0, on March 14 in DeKalb, Ill.
 
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Mabel Dunn (Oakville, Ontario-White Oaks Secondary) made her season debut and logged four saves in the victory. This was her first appearance with the Eagles since October 13, 2019, against Bowling Green.
 
The Eagles started the half strong, but had limited chances in the first 30 minutes. That changed in the 35th minute, when senior Alia Frederick (Linden, Mich.-Linden) found redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill (Whitby, Ontario-Henry Street) free in the box. McNeill sent the ball past the keeper and gave the Eagles the 1-0 lead.
 
EMU almost found an immediate second from the boots of freshman Lexy Alston (Amherst, Ohio-Marion L. Steele), as she was played through down the left wing by redshirt junior Madeline Olson (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville). However, her effort hit the post and was scooped up by the NIU keeper.
 
The Eagles would have another couple of chances and plenty of possession, and would go into the second half up 1-0.
 
That second goal would be found just six minutes in the second half thanks to junior Kylie Frantz (Erie, Pa.-Villa Maria Academy), who found the back of the net on a free kick just a few yards outside of the box.
 
Senior Marla Cobetto (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) would tack on a third goal in the 67th minute with a neat left-footed finish. Just four minutes later, McNeill would almost add her second goal, but would be denied by a nice save from NIU.
 
The Eagles would get their fourth of the day thanks to a tap-in finish from Alston, finding the rebound on the deflected save of senior Kennady Kuhlman's (Howell, Mich.-Hartland) shot. The Huskies would add a goal in the 88th minute, but it would be the Eagles that finished on top, 4-1.
 
Eastern Michigan returns to action for the final match of the 2021 regular season as they head to Muncie, Ind., to take on Ball State, April 11, at 2 p.m.
 
 
Western Michigan 2, Ball State 0
Box Score
 
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team picked up its second straight win after downing Mid-American Conference West Division leaders Ball State, 2-0, on Senior Day at the WMU Soccer Complex. On Sunday afternoon.
 
It was a day of firsts for the Broncos (4-2-2), with junior defender Emily Dahl and senior forward Hannah Redoute each netting their first collegiate goals. WMU also picked up its first win over the Cardinals since 2015.
 
"We played our complete game of the season today," said head coach Sammy Boateng. "Credit to Ball State, they are a very good team. They move the ball well and create a lot of possession. Our group did an excellent job of communicating all the way from the back with our goalkeepers to the front with our forwards."
 
Dahl gave the Broncos an early 1-0 lead in the 30th minute off of a corner kick. Freshman forward Jenna Blackburn served the ball to the far-left post and junior forward Morgan Otteson headed it back toward the goal and Dahl kicked it into the back of the net. Otteson picked up her third assist of the week on the game-winner and Blackburn tallied her third.
 
Western Michigan kept up the pressure early in the second half. Bailey Korhorn got the ball from Otteson in the right side of the box and fired a shot on goal that was saved by Maitane Bravo. Sophomore Reagan Wisser came streaking in to get the rebound but her chance just went high over the net.
 
Redoute scored in the in the 61st minute to put the Broncos up 2-0. Dahl took a free kick from just beyond midfield, sending it into the box. Otteson leaped into the air and knocked it down with her head, with Redoute winning the scramble for the ball and kicking it into the net.
 
"One of our keys for the game today was winning the set piece battle," said Boateng. "We didn't give up any goals and scored off two. Emily kept herself in the play after the first ball was played. Defenders don't score but she deserved that one. I think it was fitting that Hanna scored her first career goal today on Senior Day. She's worked extremely hard the last year and has earned this moment."
 
Both senior goalkeepers played in the victory. Hannah Sargent started and made two saves in 45 minutes of action. Rogers was subbed in to start the second half and made one save for the combined shutout.
 
Western Michigan is back in action on Thursday at home against Central Michigan at 4 p.m.  
 
 
Akron 2, Ohio 0
Box Score
 
AKRON, Ohio - On the strength of goals in each half, the University of Akron women's soccer team registered it second straight triumph as the Zips earned a 2-0 decision past Ohio on Senior Day at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, April 4.
 
"I think the team had a mindset coming in this game today after losing 3-0 to Ohio at their place and I thought we were up and ready for it and we had the commitment and scoring the early goal took the pressure off," Akron head coach Noreen Herlihy commented. "We are very happy because we have been playing very well the past few games. We started out the season quite slow, but over the past four games we have shown tremendous improvement, today capitalized by two goals and a clean sheet."
 
Sophomore Lucia Lobato (Taylors Hills, Ireland) scored what proved to be the game-winning tally for the Zips at the 18:26 mark, while junior Carly Pcholinsky (South Park, Pa.) added a goal in the 84th minute (83:52). Lobato's tally represented the first collegiate goal in her Akron career.
 
The Bobcats finished the contest earning a 12-11 advantage in shots, including an 8-5 margin in shots on goal.
 
Pcholinsky registered a career- and game-high five shots for the Zips, including equaling a career-best three shots on goal. Juniors Sydney Ward (Connellsville, Pa.) and Sydney Worthy (Groveport, Ohio) added two shots apiece for Akron. Izzi Boyd led Ohio with a team-high four shots.
 
Sophomore GK Vanessa Berlin (Gau-Oderheim, Germany) recorded a career-high eight saves in net for the Zips to post her first collegiate solo shutout. Sam Wexell made three stops in goal for the Bobcats.
 
The Zips took a 1-0 lead at the 18:26 mark when Lobato headed home a ball served in off a corner kick by freshman Sarah Nguyen (Irwin, Pa.) for her first goal of the season.
 
Akron maintained the advantage at the intermission outshooting Ohio in the initial stanza, 6-5.
 
Berlin continued her stellar play in the second half as she pulled in five saves over the game's final period.
 
Pcholinsky registered a flurry of back-to-back-to-back shots on goal in the 84th minute before pushing the ball over the line off an assist from Worthy at the 83:52 mark.
 
The Zips honored a trio of seniors in Annamarie Alfery (Cheswick, Pa.), Anya Donelan (Warrington, England) and Ryley Watt (Irwin, Pa.) in pre-game ceremonies.
 
Akron returns to action traveling to Buffalo, N.Y., to battle Buffalo in a 7 p.m. tilt on Thursday, April 8.