The University of Akron Athletics
Sunday, August 17
Akron, Ohio
1:00 PM
University of Akron
vs
Eastern Illinois
Akron Hosts Eastern Illinois in Home Opener
August 16 | Women's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's soccer team opens the home portion of its 2025 schedule welcoming Eastern Illinois to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 1 p.m. tilt on Sunday (Aug. 17).
GAME INFO
Akron vs. Eastern Illinois | Aug. 17 | 1 PM | Akron, Ohio | Live Stats | Live Video
PARKING UPDATE
Akron fans are asked to please park in Lots 6 (Along S. Union Street between InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field and Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex) and Lot 10 (Corner of Vine and Spicer Streets behind the Stile Athletics Field House). Overflow parking will be available in Lot 9. All other parking lots will require a university permit. If parking at metered spaces outside of these designated lots, meters must be paid in full and current.
HEAD COACHES
Eastern Illinois: Dirk Bennett (Eastern Illinois, 2010), Overall Record: 9-18-10 (Third Season), Record at Eastern Illinois: 9-18-10 (Third Season)
Akron: Maggie Kuhn (Bethany, 2004), Overall Record: 78-83-14 (10th Season), Record at Akron: 0-0-1 (First Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips opened their 2025 season on Thursday (Aug. 14) battling Purdue Fort Wayne to a 0-0 draw in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Zips under the leadership of first-year head coach Maggie Kuhn return six starters in 2025, including sophomores Kailyn Biecker (Wadsworth, Ohio) and Olivia Heskett (Lewis Center, Ohio), senior Emma King (Akron, Ohio), junior Jordanne Oberhaus (Wadsworth, Ohio), sophomore Kaitlyn Rogowski (Hilliard, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Rachel Wenzel (Akron, Ohio).
Akron will be led by team captains junior Sara Bower (Cincinnati, Ohio) and senior Kaylen Goddard (Mechanicsville, Md.) and King as well as fellow returning players senior Kylie Schiemann (Geneva, Ohio), juniors Emalee Szablewski (Lancaster, N.Y.) and sophomores Addison Lambert (Galena, Ohio), Allie McMillen (Shreve, Ohio), Eesha Sutharshan (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Ariana Vakos (Avon, Ohio).
The Zips are bolstered by a talented 11-member 2025 signing class, which includes eight freshmen and three transfers.
A year ago, Ella Hadley led the Zips in goals (2), points (5), shots on goal (8) and game-winners (1), while McMillen and Katie Stafford each owned a pair of goals. Morgan Pentz directed Akron in assists (2), shots (25), shots on goal (8) and game-winners (1). Bower pulled in 42 saves for Akron.
The Zips boast 11 newcomers to the squad as donning the Akron uniform this fall will be senior Rielly Chesna (Chicago, Ill.), junior Lilly Touhey (Fishers, Ind.), sophomore Taylor Allen (Blacksburg, Va.) and freshmen Freya Blatz (Bethel Park, Pa.), Fiona Buczak (Brunswick, Ohio), Fineen Cregan (Rochester, N.Y.), Luisa Fragnoli (Medina, Ohio), Addison Hall (Manchester, Conn.), Bailey Kerins (Dublin, Ohio), Olivia Pilato (Rochester, N.Y.) and Devyn Raymond (Shelby Township, Mich.).
AKRON NOTES
• Akron is unbeaten in its two meetings with Eastern Illinois.
• The Zips extended their shutout streak to six consecutive non-conference regular season contests with a 0-0 draw at Purdue Fort Wayne. Akron owns a 4-0-2 mark in those contests and have outshot the opposition, 70-61. Sara Bower has posted 15 saves in those games, while Emma King has added a team-best 10 shots with seven falling on frame.
• A trio of newcomers earned their first career start at Akron against Purdue Fort Wayne in Rielly Chesna, Luisa Fragnoli and Lilly Touhey. Overall, eight newcomers made their Zips' debut.
• Akron leads the NCAA in save percentage (1.000) and shutout percentage (1.000), while ranking 35th in saves per game (7.00).
• Bower is rated first in the NCAA in goals against average (0.00), goalie minutes played (90:00), save percentage (1.000) and shutouts (1), while ranking 24th in saves per contest (7.00) and total saves (7). King is fifth in shots on goal per contest (5.00) and 38th in shots per game (5.00).
• King needs one goal to enter the top 10 in program history in career goals having amassed 10 in her four seasons.
• King leads Akron's active leaders in career goals (10), assists (4), points (24), shots (67), shots on goal (39) and game-winners (2), while Bower paces the Zips in career saves (113), goals against average (1.68) and save percentage (.748).
• The Zips rank first in the Mid-American Conference in shutouts (1), goals against average (0.00) and save percentage (1.000), second in shots (17), shots per game (17) and saves (7), third in shots on goal (8) and shots on goal per contest (8.00) and fourth in corners (6).
• King is rated second in the MAC in shots (5.00) and shots on goal (5.00), Bower leads the league in shutouts (1), save percentage (1.000) and goals against average (1.000) and is second in saves (7) and saves per game (7.00), while Kaitlyn Rogowski is ranked seventh in shots (3.00) and shots on goal (3.00)
• Seven different Zips scored a goal last season.
• Twenty-two Zips have registered a shot a year ago, including six newcomers.
• The Zips recorded the squad's initial seven-game unbeaten streak since 2007 in 2024. The unbeaten streak matched the longest in program history set during both the 2006 and 2007 campaigns.
• Akron 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 last season represented 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).
SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS
Eastern Illinois enters play against Akron at 0-1 on the campaign after a 4-0 setback at Southern Illinois on Thursday (Aug. 14). The Panthers posted a 5-8-6 mark a season ago, including a 3-3-3 record in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Eastern Illinois is led by the return of juniors Abby Reinl and Alex Tettah, who registered eight and seven goals, respectively, last season and combined to post 15 goals, 31 points, 71 shots and 34 shots on goal. Junior GK Ella Kratochvil and redshirt junior Ashlyn Hoover return in net after pulling in 46 and 39 saves en route to collecting 0.89 and 1.80 goals against averages a year ago.
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Eastern Illinois are meeting for third time in program history with the Zips owning a 1-0 triumph on Sept. 17, 2011, at FirstEnergy Stadium, after the two sides battled to a 1-1 draw a season ago on Aug. 18, 2024, in Charleston, Ill.
UP NEXT
Akron travels to Morgantown, W.Va., for a 7 p.m. showdown at West Virginia.
GAME INFO
Akron vs. Eastern Illinois | Aug. 17 | 1 PM | Akron, Ohio | Live Stats | Live Video
PARKING UPDATE
Akron fans are asked to please park in Lots 6 (Along S. Union Street between InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field and Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex) and Lot 10 (Corner of Vine and Spicer Streets behind the Stile Athletics Field House). Overflow parking will be available in Lot 9. All other parking lots will require a university permit. If parking at metered spaces outside of these designated lots, meters must be paid in full and current.
HEAD COACHES
Eastern Illinois: Dirk Bennett (Eastern Illinois, 2010), Overall Record: 9-18-10 (Third Season), Record at Eastern Illinois: 9-18-10 (Third Season)
Akron: Maggie Kuhn (Bethany, 2004), Overall Record: 78-83-14 (10th Season), Record at Akron: 0-0-1 (First Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips opened their 2025 season on Thursday (Aug. 14) battling Purdue Fort Wayne to a 0-0 draw in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Zips under the leadership of first-year head coach Maggie Kuhn return six starters in 2025, including sophomores Kailyn Biecker (Wadsworth, Ohio) and Olivia Heskett (Lewis Center, Ohio), senior Emma King (Akron, Ohio), junior Jordanne Oberhaus (Wadsworth, Ohio), sophomore Kaitlyn Rogowski (Hilliard, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Rachel Wenzel (Akron, Ohio).
Akron will be led by team captains junior Sara Bower (Cincinnati, Ohio) and senior Kaylen Goddard (Mechanicsville, Md.) and King as well as fellow returning players senior Kylie Schiemann (Geneva, Ohio), juniors Emalee Szablewski (Lancaster, N.Y.) and sophomores Addison Lambert (Galena, Ohio), Allie McMillen (Shreve, Ohio), Eesha Sutharshan (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Ariana Vakos (Avon, Ohio).
The Zips are bolstered by a talented 11-member 2025 signing class, which includes eight freshmen and three transfers.
A year ago, Ella Hadley led the Zips in goals (2), points (5), shots on goal (8) and game-winners (1), while McMillen and Katie Stafford each owned a pair of goals. Morgan Pentz directed Akron in assists (2), shots (25), shots on goal (8) and game-winners (1). Bower pulled in 42 saves for Akron.
The Zips boast 11 newcomers to the squad as donning the Akron uniform this fall will be senior Rielly Chesna (Chicago, Ill.), junior Lilly Touhey (Fishers, Ind.), sophomore Taylor Allen (Blacksburg, Va.) and freshmen Freya Blatz (Bethel Park, Pa.), Fiona Buczak (Brunswick, Ohio), Fineen Cregan (Rochester, N.Y.), Luisa Fragnoli (Medina, Ohio), Addison Hall (Manchester, Conn.), Bailey Kerins (Dublin, Ohio), Olivia Pilato (Rochester, N.Y.) and Devyn Raymond (Shelby Township, Mich.).
AKRON NOTES
• Akron is unbeaten in its two meetings with Eastern Illinois.
• The Zips extended their shutout streak to six consecutive non-conference regular season contests with a 0-0 draw at Purdue Fort Wayne. Akron owns a 4-0-2 mark in those contests and have outshot the opposition, 70-61. Sara Bower has posted 15 saves in those games, while Emma King has added a team-best 10 shots with seven falling on frame.
• A trio of newcomers earned their first career start at Akron against Purdue Fort Wayne in Rielly Chesna, Luisa Fragnoli and Lilly Touhey. Overall, eight newcomers made their Zips' debut.
• Akron leads the NCAA in save percentage (1.000) and shutout percentage (1.000), while ranking 35th in saves per game (7.00).
• Bower is rated first in the NCAA in goals against average (0.00), goalie minutes played (90:00), save percentage (1.000) and shutouts (1), while ranking 24th in saves per contest (7.00) and total saves (7). King is fifth in shots on goal per contest (5.00) and 38th in shots per game (5.00).
• King needs one goal to enter the top 10 in program history in career goals having amassed 10 in her four seasons.
• King leads Akron's active leaders in career goals (10), assists (4), points (24), shots (67), shots on goal (39) and game-winners (2), while Bower paces the Zips in career saves (113), goals against average (1.68) and save percentage (.748).
• The Zips rank first in the Mid-American Conference in shutouts (1), goals against average (0.00) and save percentage (1.000), second in shots (17), shots per game (17) and saves (7), third in shots on goal (8) and shots on goal per contest (8.00) and fourth in corners (6).
• King is rated second in the MAC in shots (5.00) and shots on goal (5.00), Bower leads the league in shutouts (1), save percentage (1.000) and goals against average (1.000) and is second in saves (7) and saves per game (7.00), while Kaitlyn Rogowski is ranked seventh in shots (3.00) and shots on goal (3.00)
• Seven different Zips scored a goal last season.
• Twenty-two Zips have registered a shot a year ago, including six newcomers.
• The Zips recorded the squad's initial seven-game unbeaten streak since 2007 in 2024. The unbeaten streak matched the longest in program history set during both the 2006 and 2007 campaigns.
• Akron 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 last season represented 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).
SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS
Eastern Illinois enters play against Akron at 0-1 on the campaign after a 4-0 setback at Southern Illinois on Thursday (Aug. 14). The Panthers posted a 5-8-6 mark a season ago, including a 3-3-3 record in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Eastern Illinois is led by the return of juniors Abby Reinl and Alex Tettah, who registered eight and seven goals, respectively, last season and combined to post 15 goals, 31 points, 71 shots and 34 shots on goal. Junior GK Ella Kratochvil and redshirt junior Ashlyn Hoover return in net after pulling in 46 and 39 saves en route to collecting 0.89 and 1.80 goals against averages a year ago.
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Eastern Illinois are meeting for third time in program history with the Zips owning a 1-0 triumph on Sept. 17, 2011, at FirstEnergy Stadium, after the two sides battled to a 1-1 draw a season ago on Aug. 18, 2024, in Charleston, Ill.
UP NEXT
Akron travels to Morgantown, W.Va., for a 7 p.m. showdown at West Virginia.
Players Mentioned
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