The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, October 18
Kalamazoo, Mich.
4:00 PM
University of Akron
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Sara Skotzke
Akron Faces Road Test at Western Michigan
October 17 | Women's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's soccer team travels to Kalamazoo, Mich., for a showdown with league-leading Western Michigan at 4 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 18).
GAME INFO
Akron at Western Michigan | Oct. 18 | 4 PM | Kalamazoo, Mich. | Live Stats | Live Video
HEAD COACHES
Western Michigan: Lewis Robinson (Davenport, 2008), Overall Record: 24-14-14 (Third Season), Record at Western Michigan: 24-14-14 (Third Season)
Akron: Jen Simonetti (Dayton, 2005), Overall Record: 53-67-18 (Ninth Season), Record at Akron: 11-28-9 (Third Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
Akron enters action at Western Michigan at 5-5-4 on the campaign, including 0-5-2 in the MAC following a 2-2 draw versus Northern Illinois on Sunday (Oct. 13).
Redshirt senior Katie Stafford (Gahanna, Ohio) netted a pair of goals, including the equalizer in the 89th minute (88:47) to help the Zips garner their second consecutive league draw.
Sophomore GK Sara Bower (Cincinnati, Ohio) pulled in a season-high seven saves in the contest to spark Akron to a league result against the Huskies.
Senior Ella Hadley (Concord, Ohio), freshman Allie McMillen (Shreve, Ohio) and Stafford led the Zips with two goals apiece this season, while, junior Emma King (Akron, Ohio), redshirt senior Morgan Pentz (Broadview Heights, Ohio) and sophomores Anna Simmons (Manassas, Va.) Rachel Wenzel (Akron, Ohio) have netted one goal each. Eleven Akron players have recorded an assist on the campaign led by a team-high two from Pentz. Hadley paces the squad in shots (18) and shots on goal (8), while Cuirinier and Bower own 37 and 21 saves, respectively, in net for Akron.
STAFFORD NAMED MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Katie Stafford was tabbed by the Mid-American Conference as its Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (Oct. 15).
Stafford turned in an outstanding week sparking the Zips to a pair of draws, while adding a pair of goals.
Stafford headlined Akron's defensive efforts in a 0-0 draw at Miami on Oct. 10, a performance that limited the RedHawks to only two shots on goal (11 overall). It was the sixth shutout of the season for the Zips, the most for Akron in a season since posting seven in 2011. It also marked the first time since the 2022 campaign Miami had not scored in a home league game.
Stafford capped her week netting a brace in a 2-2 draw versus Northern Illinois on Sunday (Oct. 13). She opened the scoring in the match with her first goal of the season in the 11th minute before successfully finishing a penalty kick for the equalizing goal in the 89th minute. It marked her second career multi-goal performance.
AKRON NOTES
• Thirteen of the 22 matches between Akron and Western Michigan have resulted in a shutout.
• Akron is in search of its first-ever road victory over the Broncos.
• Sara Bower and Penelope Cuirinier lead the Mid-American Conference in combined shutouts (4), while ranking ninth and 10th, respectively, in saves per game at 2.92 and 2.86 per contest. Additionally, Bower is rated fourth in save percentage (.833) and seventh in goals against average (0.91), while Cuirinier is fourth in goals against average (0.83) and fifth in save percentage (.826). In league-only affairs, Stafford is ranked eighth in goals per match (0.29), while Cuirinier is eighth, ninth and ninth, respectively, in goals against average (1.31), save percentage (.750) and saves per game (3.00).
• Akron is ranked 33rd in the NCAA in save percentage (.838).
• Seven different Zips have scored a goal this season, including one newcomer.
• Twenty-two 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 Western Michigan with 199 career saves.
• 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's victory over Oakland (Aug. 22) marked the 50th career coaching victory for head coach Jen Simonetti.
• Ella Hadley enters play versus Western Michigan 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 WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan enters play versus Akron at 7-1-6 on the campaign, including 4-0-3 in the Mid-American Conference following a 2-2 draw at Eastern Michigan on Sunday (Oct. 13).
The Broncos are led by redshirt senior Jen Blitchok, who paces the team in goals (12), points (29), shots (57), shots on goal (29) and game-winners (3), while ranking second in assists (5). Senior GK Lauren Boafo has pulled in 26 saves on the campaign and owns a 0.57 goals against average with five shutouts.
Western Michigan is ranked 17th in the NCAA in total assists (34), 19th in assists per game (2.43), 26th in goals against average (0.64), 27th in corner kicks (6.50), 30th in points per tilt (6.43) and save percentage (.84), 34th in goal differential (19) and total points (90), 42nd in shutout percentage (0.50) and 44th in shots per outing (16.00).
Individually, Blitchok is rated fourth in total points (29) and points per outing (2.07), sixth in goals per game (0.86), seventh in total goals (12), 20th in shots on goal (2.07), 24th in shots per match (4.07) and 33rd in game-winning goals (3), while Boafo is ranked 23rd in goals against average (0.57) and senior Abby Werthman is 18th in total assists (7) and 22nd in assists per game (0.50).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Western Michigan are meeting for 23rd time in program history with the Broncos leading the series by a 19-1-2 margin. Western Michigan earned a 2-0 triumph over the Zips on Oct. 5, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
UP NEXT
Akron visits rival Kent State for a 7 p.m. match on Thursday (Oct. 24).
GAME INFO
Akron at Western Michigan | Oct. 18 | 4 PM | Kalamazoo, Mich. | Live Stats | Live Video
HEAD COACHES
Western Michigan: Lewis Robinson (Davenport, 2008), Overall Record: 24-14-14 (Third Season), Record at Western Michigan: 24-14-14 (Third Season)
Akron: Jen Simonetti (Dayton, 2005), Overall Record: 53-67-18 (Ninth Season), Record at Akron: 11-28-9 (Third Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
Akron enters action at Western Michigan at 5-5-4 on the campaign, including 0-5-2 in the MAC following a 2-2 draw versus Northern Illinois on Sunday (Oct. 13).
Redshirt senior Katie Stafford (Gahanna, Ohio) netted a pair of goals, including the equalizer in the 89th minute (88:47) to help the Zips garner their second consecutive league draw.
Sophomore GK Sara Bower (Cincinnati, Ohio) pulled in a season-high seven saves in the contest to spark Akron to a league result against the Huskies.
Senior Ella Hadley (Concord, Ohio), freshman Allie McMillen (Shreve, Ohio) and Stafford led the Zips with two goals apiece this season, while, junior Emma King (Akron, Ohio), redshirt senior Morgan Pentz (Broadview Heights, Ohio) and sophomores Anna Simmons (Manassas, Va.) Rachel Wenzel (Akron, Ohio) have netted one goal each. Eleven Akron players have recorded an assist on the campaign led by a team-high two from Pentz. Hadley paces the squad in shots (18) and shots on goal (8), while Cuirinier and Bower own 37 and 21 saves, respectively, in net for Akron.
STAFFORD NAMED MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Katie Stafford was tabbed by the Mid-American Conference as its Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (Oct. 15).
Stafford turned in an outstanding week sparking the Zips to a pair of draws, while adding a pair of goals.
Stafford headlined Akron's defensive efforts in a 0-0 draw at Miami on Oct. 10, a performance that limited the RedHawks to only two shots on goal (11 overall). It was the sixth shutout of the season for the Zips, the most for Akron in a season since posting seven in 2011. It also marked the first time since the 2022 campaign Miami had not scored in a home league game.
Stafford capped her week netting a brace in a 2-2 draw versus Northern Illinois on Sunday (Oct. 13). She opened the scoring in the match with her first goal of the season in the 11th minute before successfully finishing a penalty kick for the equalizing goal in the 89th minute. It marked her second career multi-goal performance.
AKRON NOTES
• Thirteen of the 22 matches between Akron and Western Michigan have resulted in a shutout.
• Akron is in search of its first-ever road victory over the Broncos.
• Sara Bower and Penelope Cuirinier lead the Mid-American Conference in combined shutouts (4), while ranking ninth and 10th, respectively, in saves per game at 2.92 and 2.86 per contest. Additionally, Bower is rated fourth in save percentage (.833) and seventh in goals against average (0.91), while Cuirinier is fourth in goals against average (0.83) and fifth in save percentage (.826). In league-only affairs, Stafford is ranked eighth in goals per match (0.29), while Cuirinier is eighth, ninth and ninth, respectively, in goals against average (1.31), save percentage (.750) and saves per game (3.00).
• Akron is ranked 33rd in the NCAA in save percentage (.838).
• Seven different Zips have scored a goal this season, including one newcomer.
• Twenty-two 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 Western Michigan with 199 career saves.
• 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's victory over Oakland (Aug. 22) marked the 50th career coaching victory for head coach Jen Simonetti.
• Ella Hadley enters play versus Western Michigan 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 WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan enters play versus Akron at 7-1-6 on the campaign, including 4-0-3 in the Mid-American Conference following a 2-2 draw at Eastern Michigan on Sunday (Oct. 13).
The Broncos are led by redshirt senior Jen Blitchok, who paces the team in goals (12), points (29), shots (57), shots on goal (29) and game-winners (3), while ranking second in assists (5). Senior GK Lauren Boafo has pulled in 26 saves on the campaign and owns a 0.57 goals against average with five shutouts.
Western Michigan is ranked 17th in the NCAA in total assists (34), 19th in assists per game (2.43), 26th in goals against average (0.64), 27th in corner kicks (6.50), 30th in points per tilt (6.43) and save percentage (.84), 34th in goal differential (19) and total points (90), 42nd in shutout percentage (0.50) and 44th in shots per outing (16.00).
Individually, Blitchok is rated fourth in total points (29) and points per outing (2.07), sixth in goals per game (0.86), seventh in total goals (12), 20th in shots on goal (2.07), 24th in shots per match (4.07) and 33rd in game-winning goals (3), while Boafo is ranked 23rd in goals against average (0.57) and senior Abby Werthman is 18th in total assists (7) and 22nd in assists per game (0.50).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Western Michigan are meeting for 23rd time in program history with the Broncos leading the series by a 19-1-2 margin. Western Michigan earned a 2-0 triumph over the Zips on Oct. 5, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
UP NEXT
Akron visits rival Kent State for a 7 p.m. match on Thursday (Oct. 24).
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Players Mentioned
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