The University of Akron (4-4-2, 1-1-0 MAC) women’s soccer team dropped Sunday afternoon’s Mid-American Conference match against Ball State University (7-2-1, 2-0-0 MAC) by a score to 2-0 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
Following a strong win on Friday against Miami (Ohio), the Zips never had much control of the match. Ball State started the scoring effort early in the fifth minute, when they headed in a goal in the from a corner kick.
Twenty minutes would lapse until the next Ball State goal, as the Cardinals’ Kelsey Wendlandt gave her team a 2-0 lead with a breakaway goal in the 24th minute.
Junior goalkeeper Alex Luevano-Harden allowed both first half goals in her second start of the season, before being replaced by sophomore Klaire Adee in the second half. Luevano-Harden collected two saves in 45 minutes of play, but her record fell to 1-1-0 in 2013 with the loss.
The Zips had a few chances in the second half to cut into the deficit, but the Cardinals defense was unrelenting. Senior Kelly DeNiro led the Akron attack with four shots, one on goal, while Amber Kern, Sarah Sivic and Lani Smith each recorded two shots.
Adee finished up the game in goal with two saves and no goals allowed in the second half. This season, the Rockford, Ill. native has registered 30 total saves.
Akron women’s soccer will be back in action next weekend with two MAC matches scheduled. UA will open up the weekend against Northern Illinois on Friday at 7 p.m., and will wrap up on Sunday against Toledo at 1 p.m.
