An overtime goal by freshman Sarah Sivic pushed The University of Akron (2-1) women’s soccer team to victory over Morehead State (0-2-1) on Friday evening by a score of 2-1.
“These are the games that test an individual’s and a group’s character, and we got tested tonight by a number of factors. I’m so proud of all of our players for not allowing those factors to affect us negatively,” Head coach Vernon Croft said Friday.
For the first half, the game rested mainly within the defenses’ hands, as Akron and Morehead registered four shots a piece through the first 45 minutes. However, Morehead State broke through the defensive struggle with a goal at 49:58 by Kimberly Fox to give the Eagles a 1-0 advantage early in the second half.
The contest would remain at the 1-0 score until the 84th minute, when Sivic connected for her first of two goals in the match. Sivic registered the goal with a shot in to the top right hand corner of the net. Senior Kelly DeNiro was credited with her second assist of the season on the match-tying goal.
With the match tied at the end of regulation time the game went in to overtime, where Sivic knocked in the game-winning goal in the 95th minute to give UA its second win of the season.Maggie Rusnak was credited with the assist on the game winning goal, her first of the season.
“There is no way we complete this game tonight without the true commitment to each other. Proud of the players and staff tonight as we turn our focus towards a very good Marshall team on Sunday,” Croft said following the win.
Overall, Akron out shot Morehead State eleven to six, with a shots on goal margin of three to two.
Sophomore goalkeeper Klaire Adee improved her season record to 2-1 following the victory. Tonight’s overtime game was the first of the 2013 season, and the first since the regular season finale against Buffalo in 2012, which resulted in a 2-1 win for UA.
The Zips will head to Huntington, WV for one more match this weekend at Marshall University at 1 p.m., on Sunday. UA holds 3-2-1 all-time series record against the Thundering Herd.
