Wenzel's Late Goal Propels Zips to Senior Day Draw Against Bowling Green

Sunday, September 20

Akron, Ohio

1:00 PM

University of Akron

4-4-1, 0-1-1

Bowling Green

4-1-3, 0-0-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Bowling Green	1	0	1
Akron	0	1	1

Rachel Wenzel leaps in the air after scoring her game-tying goal in the 81st minute on Senior Day.

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Wenzel's Late Goal Propels Zips to Senior Day Draw Against Bowling Green

September 20 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Noah Tylutki, Associate Director of Athletics Communications

AKRON, Ohio — It was a leap of luck.

Down 1-0 against Bowling Green in the 81st minute — a squad that made the MAC final last season — the Falcons' goalkeeper attempted to clear the ball just outside of the box after a defender passed it back.

Rachel Wenzel jumped up, and with perfect timing the ball went off the senior's left foot and trickled into the back of the net. The defense held strong for the final nine minutes, securing a 1-1 tie marking back-to-back years the Zips have tied the Falcons after losing the previous six matchups.

"We've talked about creating our own luck, and that's what that looks like," Zips head coach Maggie Kuhn said. "That's the energy we need to put out onto the field. I'm very proud of the team, and there was a lot of grit shown today."

The Akron native Wenzel notched her team-leading fifth goal of the season and has scored in the Zips' last three matches.

"I was just able to be in the right spot at the right time," Wenzel said. "[Assistant coach] Josh [Kay] has been saying 'create your own look,' and we were able to. It's just giving everything we have, and it was a team effort."

The Zips had an early chance in the first minute off a Hattie Yugovich shot that hit the top woodwork. Bowling Green rattled off four shots before cashing in during the 36th minute to take a 1-0 lead, and Akron did not have another shot attempt the remainder of the half.

Sara Bower recorded two saves in the second half before Wenzel's goal. The Zips also had two shots on net prior in the period but could not find the back of the net.

"BG has a lot of experience, and we knew they were going to have more possession than we did," Kuhn said. "We knew we would have to defend really well, which for the most part I thought we did.

While a handful of players are playing out of position and youth on the team, Kuhn credits the senior class of Bower, Olivia Heskett, Jordanne Oberhaus and Wenzel as models of consistency who were honored before the match on Senior Day.

"I can't say enough about that group of seniors," Kuhn said. "They have constantly shown up for us and their teammates. They had a lot of challenges throughout their four years, and they've come back stronger and showed a lot of grit and resiliency. We are better because they have been in our program."

Up Next
Akron will get a week off from competition before facing Ohio on Sunday, September 27 at home. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.