The University of Akron Athletics
Sunday, October 13
Akron, Ohio
1:00 PM
University of Akron
vs
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Tony Davis
Northern Illinois Up Next for Akron
October 12 | Women's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's soccer team welcomes Northern Illinois to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 1 p.m. match on Sunday (Oct. 13) as part of the squad's annual Breast Cancer Awareness game.
The Zips will don pink long sleeve t-shirts in pregame warmups as well as sporting pink socks during their Mid-American Conference showdown with the Huskies to help raise Breast Cancer Awareness.
Tickets for the contest against Northern Illinois are available for purchase at http://www.gozips.com/Tickets. Fans are asked to park in Lots 6, 9 and 10 surrounding InfoCision Stadium and the Stile Athletics Field House. For complete parking information click here.
GAME INFO
Akron vs. Northern Illinois | Oct. 13 | 1 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | Live Video
HEAD COACHES
Northern Illinois: Michael O'Neill (Tiffin), Overall Record: 98-72-23 (11th Season), Record at Northern Illinois: 21-20-10 (Third Season)
Akron: Jen Simonetti (Dayton, 2005), Overall Record: 53-67-17 (Ninth Season), Record at Akron: 11-28-8 (Third Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
Akron comes into play against Northern Illinois at 5-5-3 on the campaign, including 0-5-1 in the MAC following a 0-0 draw at Miami on Thursday (Oct. 10).
Sophomore GK Sara Bower (Cincinnati, Ohio) and redshirt junior GK Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) combined to record Akron's sixth shutout of the season on the strength of Bower pulling in a pair of saves in the contest.
Senior Ella Hadley (Concord, Ohio), freshman Allie McMillen (Shreve, Ohio), junior Emma King (Akron, Ohio), redshirt senior Morgan Pentz (Broadview Heights, Ohio) and sophomores Anna Simmons (Manassas, Va.) Rachel Wenzel (Akron, Ohio) have accounted for the Zips' goals this season having netted two, two, one, one, one and one, respectively. Nine Akron players have recorded an assist on the campaign led by a team-high two from Pentz. Hadley paces the squad in shots (17) and shots on goal (8), while Cuirinier and Bower own 37 and 13 saves, respectively, in net for Akron.
The Zips under the leadership of third-year head coach Jen Simonetti returned nine starters in 2024, including senior team captains Katie Stafford (Gahanna, Ohio) and Pentz.
AKRON NOTES
• Seventeen of the 22 matches between Akron and Northern Illinois have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips posting six wins and three draws in those matches.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in six all-time meetings with the Huskies.
• The Zips are 3-1-1 in the last five encounters with Northern Illinois.
• Penelope Cuirinier leads the Mid-American Conference in combined shutouts (4), while ranking fifth in save percentage (.826) and in goals against average (0.83) and 10th in saves per match (2.92). Additionally, she is rated 10th in league-only saves per game (3.00) and in goals against average (1.31).
• The Zips recorded the squad's initial seven-game unbeaten streak since 2007 this season. The unbeaten streak matched the longest in program history set during both the 2006 and 2007 campaigns.
• Akron has matched its 2006 squad as the only Zips' teams to post an unbeaten record in non-conference play.
• Akron posted the second most shutouts in a non-conference campaign in school history, trailing only the 2006 squad that registered six straight to open the 2006 season.
• Akron posted five consecutive shutouts for the first time since the 2009 campaign.
• The four 1-0 clean sheet victories this season represent the second-highest total in program history matching identical marks in 2007, 2009 and 2011. The 2006 Akron team holds the top mark with six 1-0 wins.
• The six shutouts by the Zips are the most for Akron in a season since posting seven in the 2011 campaign.
• The Zips posted shutouts in five consecutive contests and did not surrender a goal in more than 606 minutes (606:05).
• Akron is ranked 28th in the NCAA in save percentage (.846) and 49th in goals against average (.769).
• Six different Zips have scored a goal this season, including one newcomer.
• Twenty-one Zips have registered a shot this season, including six newcomers.
• Nine Akron newcomers have appeared in a match for the Zips this season.
• Penelope Cuirinier collected her 175th career save against Cleveland State (Sept. 12) and enters play versus Northern Illinois with 199 career saves.
• Akron's victory over Oakland (Aug. 22) marked the 50th career coaching victory for head coach Jen Simonetti.
• Ella Hadley enters play versus Northern Illinois ranked ninth in career scoring at Akron with 26 points, while Emma King is nearing the top 10 in career scoring with 24 points.
• King needs one goal to enter the top 10 in program history in career goals having amassed 10 in her four seasons.
• Cuirinier is ranked third, third, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Akron women's soccer record book in career saves, shutouts, wins and goals against average.
• Penelope Cuirinier was tabbed by the MAC as its Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 17.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois comes into play versus Akron at 7-4-3 on the campaign, including 1-3-2 in the Mid-American Conference following a 2-1 victory over Kent State on Saturday (Oct. 10).
The Huskies are led by sophomore Tyra King, who paces the team in goals (6), assists (5), points (17), shots (34), shots on goal (21) and game-winners (2). Redshirt senior GK Ary Purifoy has pulled in 43 saves on the campaign and owns a 1.13 goals against average with five shutouts.
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Northern Illinois are meeting for 23rd time in program history with the Huskies leading the series by a 10-9-3 margin. Northern Illinois bested the Zips, 1-0, on Oct. 1, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
UP NEXT
Akron visits league-leading Western Michigan on Friday (Oct. 18) in a 4 p.m. match in Kalamazoo, Mich.
AKRON ATHLETICS NOW CASHLESS
The University of Akron Athletics Department announced its transition to cashless payments for all ticketing, concessions, and merchandise purchases at all Akron athletic venues, concession stands, and gear shops, beginning with the start of the 2024-25 sports seasons. For more information click here.
The Zips will don pink long sleeve t-shirts in pregame warmups as well as sporting pink socks during their Mid-American Conference showdown with the Huskies to help raise Breast Cancer Awareness.
Tickets for the contest against Northern Illinois are available for purchase at http://www.gozips.com/Tickets. Fans are asked to park in Lots 6, 9 and 10 surrounding InfoCision Stadium and the Stile Athletics Field House. For complete parking information click here.
GAME INFO
Akron vs. Northern Illinois | Oct. 13 | 1 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | Live Video
HEAD COACHES
Northern Illinois: Michael O'Neill (Tiffin), Overall Record: 98-72-23 (11th Season), Record at Northern Illinois: 21-20-10 (Third Season)
Akron: Jen Simonetti (Dayton, 2005), Overall Record: 53-67-17 (Ninth Season), Record at Akron: 11-28-8 (Third Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
Akron comes into play against Northern Illinois at 5-5-3 on the campaign, including 0-5-1 in the MAC following a 0-0 draw at Miami on Thursday (Oct. 10).
Sophomore GK Sara Bower (Cincinnati, Ohio) and redshirt junior GK Penelope Cuirinier (Mionnay, France) combined to record Akron's sixth shutout of the season on the strength of Bower pulling in a pair of saves in the contest.
Senior Ella Hadley (Concord, Ohio), freshman Allie McMillen (Shreve, Ohio), junior Emma King (Akron, Ohio), redshirt senior Morgan Pentz (Broadview Heights, Ohio) and sophomores Anna Simmons (Manassas, Va.) Rachel Wenzel (Akron, Ohio) have accounted for the Zips' goals this season having netted two, two, one, one, one and one, respectively. Nine Akron players have recorded an assist on the campaign led by a team-high two from Pentz. Hadley paces the squad in shots (17) and shots on goal (8), while Cuirinier and Bower own 37 and 13 saves, respectively, in net for Akron.
The Zips under the leadership of third-year head coach Jen Simonetti returned nine starters in 2024, including senior team captains Katie Stafford (Gahanna, Ohio) and Pentz.
AKRON NOTES
• Seventeen of the 22 matches between Akron and Northern Illinois have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips posting six wins and three draws in those matches.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in six all-time meetings with the Huskies.
• The Zips are 3-1-1 in the last five encounters with Northern Illinois.
• Penelope Cuirinier leads the Mid-American Conference in combined shutouts (4), while ranking fifth in save percentage (.826) and in goals against average (0.83) and 10th in saves per match (2.92). Additionally, she is rated 10th in league-only saves per game (3.00) and in goals against average (1.31).
• The Zips recorded the squad's initial seven-game unbeaten streak since 2007 this season. The unbeaten streak matched the longest in program history set during both the 2006 and 2007 campaigns.
• Akron has matched its 2006 squad as the only Zips' teams to post an unbeaten record in non-conference play.
• Akron posted the second most shutouts in a non-conference campaign in school history, trailing only the 2006 squad that registered six straight to open the 2006 season.
• Akron posted five consecutive shutouts for the first time since the 2009 campaign.
• The four 1-0 clean sheet victories this season represent the second-highest total in program history matching identical marks in 2007, 2009 and 2011. The 2006 Akron team holds the top mark with six 1-0 wins.
• The six shutouts by the Zips are the most for Akron in a season since posting seven in the 2011 campaign.
• The Zips posted shutouts in five consecutive contests and did not surrender a goal in more than 606 minutes (606:05).
• Akron is ranked 28th in the NCAA in save percentage (.846) and 49th in goals against average (.769).
• Six different Zips have scored a goal this season, including one newcomer.
• Twenty-one Zips have registered a shot this season, including six newcomers.
• Nine Akron newcomers have appeared in a match for the Zips this season.
• Penelope Cuirinier collected her 175th career save against Cleveland State (Sept. 12) and enters play versus Northern Illinois with 199 career saves.
• Akron's victory over Oakland (Aug. 22) marked the 50th career coaching victory for head coach Jen Simonetti.
• Ella Hadley enters play versus Northern Illinois ranked ninth in career scoring at Akron with 26 points, while Emma King is nearing the top 10 in career scoring with 24 points.
• King needs one goal to enter the top 10 in program history in career goals having amassed 10 in her four seasons.
• Cuirinier is ranked third, third, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Akron women's soccer record book in career saves, shutouts, wins and goals against average.
• Penelope Cuirinier was tabbed by the MAC as its Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 17.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois comes into play versus Akron at 7-4-3 on the campaign, including 1-3-2 in the Mid-American Conference following a 2-1 victory over Kent State on Saturday (Oct. 10).
The Huskies are led by sophomore Tyra King, who paces the team in goals (6), assists (5), points (17), shots (34), shots on goal (21) and game-winners (2). Redshirt senior GK Ary Purifoy has pulled in 43 saves on the campaign and owns a 1.13 goals against average with five shutouts.
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Northern Illinois are meeting for 23rd time in program history with the Huskies leading the series by a 10-9-3 margin. Northern Illinois bested the Zips, 1-0, on Oct. 1, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
UP NEXT
Akron visits league-leading Western Michigan on Friday (Oct. 18) in a 4 p.m. match in Kalamazoo, Mich.
AKRON ATHLETICS NOW CASHLESS
The University of Akron Athletics Department announced its transition to cashless payments for all ticketing, concessions, and merchandise purchases at all Akron athletic venues, concession stands, and gear shops, beginning with the start of the 2024-25 sports seasons. For more information click here.
Players Mentioned
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F
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