2024 MACtion on the Pitch: Week 1

The Mid-American Conference soccer season is finally here! Check out how the teams opened up their 2024 campaigns

The US Women’s National Soccer Team won gold in Paris. So you’d think soccer is taking a break, right? Wrong. The 2024 Mid-American Conference Women’s Soccer is here. You know what that means? Hustle Belt’s MACtion on the Pitch is officially back for our second season! If you’re new here, we’ll be recapping the action every week from non-conference to the NCAA tournament. Check out the conference’s preseason report on all 12 teams here.

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Akron (1-0-1)

8/15 at Iona (W)
8/18 at Eastern Illinois (D)

Akron had the honor of kicking off the 2024 season when they took on the Iona Gaels in New Rochelle, New York (just outside of New York City). The first ever meeting between the Zips and Gaels did not disappoint. Both teams would go back and forth without much push and pull, but Iona would strike first in the 43nd minute. The Zips found themselves trailing at the break. In the 66th minute, Akron sophomore Rachel Wenzel caught the keeper off her line, and put the shot into the far side of the net. Shani Sirota would grab the assist. Akron earned a free kick in the 80th minute. Redshirt senior Morgan Pentz scored the free kick without any deflection to put the Zips up 2-1. The final whistle would blow and Akron started the year with a win.

Akron would then continue their road trip to Charleston, Illinois to take on Eastern Illinois. Eastern Illinois would find the net in the 11th minute, and the score would remain 1-0 through the first half. Akron, despite trailing, would lead in shots 8-3. 20 minutes into the second half, Akron’s Ella Hadley would equalize off an assist from Morgan Pentz. The final whistle would sound with the game ending in a 1-1 draw. Take a look at the equalizer:

Upcoming matches:

8/22 vs Oakland
8/25 vs Wright State

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Ball State (1-0-0)

8/15 vs Purdue Fort Wayne (W)

Ball State opened up 2024 at home against the Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne. The fans at Briner Sports Complex were treated to an offensive onslaught. Scoring wouldn’t start until the 27th minute when Ball State sophomore Kaelyn Valleau put the ball in the goal. Assisted by Aleyna Quinn, the Cardinals would eventually go into the break up 1-0. The shot tally favored Ball State 17-3. In the 51st minute, junior Delaney Caldwell would score two goals in less than three minutes. Assisted by Addie Chester and Maya Millis, the Cardinals were up 3-0. Ball State earned a penalty kick in the 89th minute, and freshman LG Moncrief scored her first collegiate goal to help the Cardinals to a 4-0 statement win.

Brayden Goins/Ball State Athletics

Upcoming matches:

8/20 vs Indiana
8/29 at Butler

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Bowling Green (1-0-0)

8/15 vs Detroit Mercy (W)

The Falcons ushered in the Chris Fox era with a game against Detroit Mercy at Cochrane Stadium. It only took until the 9th minute for the scoring to open, as the Titans found the back of the net in a scrum. The Falcons found themselves down 1-0 early. It wasn’t until the 41st minute that the Falcons would equalize. Lauren Mahoney would find the net for her first collegiate goal, assisted by Alaina Uncapher and Alexis Tsaprailis. The teams would go into halftime level at 1-1. 2:04 into the second half, Lauren Mahoney would net her second of the night, assisted by Brynn Gardner. In the 86th minute, the Falcons would put the game on ice when Brynn Gardner would net her first of the season. Assisted by Lilly Boebel, that goal would put the Falcons up 3-1. Congratulations to Chris Fox on his first #MACtion win!

Upcoming matches:

8/22 vs Findlay

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Buffalo (1-0-0)

8/15 vs St. Bonaventure (W)

Buffalo would welcome the Bonnies to UB Stadium. This matchup is always one to look forward to, as the Bulls held a 16-14-2 advantage in the all-time series before 2024. No team would pick up a first half advantage, and the halftime break would see a score of 0-0. St. Bonaventure would not get a shot off in the second half, but it looked like the defense would hold the tie. That is, until the 80th minute. Kelly Severini (Michigan State transfer) would score her first goal as a Bull to put Buffalo up 1-0, and essentially win the game. Lexie Thompson would only have to make one save in the shutout. Take a brief look at their season opener montage:

Upcoming matches:

8/22 at Pittsburgh

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Central Michigan (0-1-0)

8/15 at Kentucky (L)

The Chippewas opened their 2024 campaign in Lexington to take on the Wildcats. This would be a tough test as Kentucky has not lost to a MAC team in its existence. The MAC has two ties against Kentucky, one in 2009 (Akron) and another in 2019 (Bowling Green). Central Michigan would bend for most of the first half, but finally broke in the 42nd minute and allowed Kentucky to go up 1-0. Not much action would happen in the offensive half for the Chippewas, which would see the Wildcats scoring again in the 64th minute. The final was 2-0, and the Chippewas only had three shots the entire game. Allison LaPoint would make seven saves on the evening.

Upcoming matches:

8/25 vs Cincinnati

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Eastern Michigan (1-0-0)

8/15 vs Oakland (W)

The Eagles began the Taylor Clarke era at home against the Golden Grizzlies at Scicluna Field. It was an intense back and forth battle with no team breaking through until the 85th minute. Sophomore Cameryn Susey found the back of the net for her second career goal to lead the Eagles to a 1-0 victory. Eagles goalkeeper Ella Holland only needed one save in the shutout. This win was the 250th victory in program history, and their first season opening shutout since 2014. Congratulations to Coach Clarke on his first #MACtion win as head coach!

Upcoming matches:

8/22 at Illinois-Chicago
8/25 vs Youngstown State

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Kent State (1-0-1)

8/15 vs Cleveland State (W)
8/18 at Youngstown State (D)

The reigning tournament runner-up welcomed the Vikings to Dix Stadium. Kent State really hammered the attack early, but could not convert the early chances. In the 37th minute, Josie Morgan would open the scoring for Kent State. Morgan had some crafty moves to get the goal, check it out.

1:05 later, Thea Oberhoff doubled the advantage with an assist from Siena Stambolich. The Flashes led 2-0 at half with a 9-0 shot advantage. The defense would hold strong until Cleveland State pulled one back in the 80th minute. That would be all for this game, as the Flashes opened up 2024 with a win.

Kent State would then take on the Penguins in Youngstown. Youngstown State has struggled against the MAC in recent years, going 2-7-1 in their last ten before the Kent State game. The Penguins would score first in the 11th minute. Josie Morgan would score her second of the season in the 25th minute. The game would go into the halftime break at 1-1. It only took Kent State 44 seconds to score in the second half. Samantha Miller would score unassisted to put the Flashes up 2-1. The Penguins would earn a penalty kick, and they would convert in the 56th minute. The score would end 2-2, with Kent State having a 20-8 shot advantage.

Upcoming matches:

8/25 vs Oakland

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Miami (1-0-1)

8/15 vs Eastern Kentucky (W)
8/18 at Tennessee Tech (D)

Miami opened the home schedule against Eastern Kentucky. Neither team would have an advantage throughout the first 30 minutes. In the 33rd minute, Miami would open the scoring. Caroline Palmer would score the opener off an assist from Taylor Hamlett. Miami would go into the break with a 1-0 advantage. After the halftime break, it was all Redhawks. Katie O’Malley would score in the 63rd minute off another Taylor Hamlett assist. 1:21 later, Hamlett would join the scoring party, making the score 3-0. In the 88th minute, Hamlett would score her second of the night with an assist from Maris Jennings. Miami would dominate Eastern Kentucky 4-0.

Will Corey/Miami Athletics

The Redhawks then traveled to take on Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles struck first in the 14th minute. 31 seconds later, the Taylor Hamlett show would continue with an assist from Makenna Morrison. The score would be 1-1 at half. In the 61st minute, Hamlett would score her FOURTH goal of the season to put Miami up 2-1. Tennessee Tech would ultimately equalize in the 81st minute, and the game would end 2-2.

Upcoming matches:

8/22 at Indiana State

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Northern Illinois (0-0-1)

8/15 at DePaul (D)

NIU would take a 90 minute trip to Chicago to take on the Blue Demons. There would not be any scoring action despite the Huskies having 10 shots, seven on goal. NIU goalkeeper, and Oklahoma State transfer, Ary Purifoy did not have to make a save, as DePaul had no shots on goal. This was the first opening day tie for the Huskies since 2016. Head coach Michael O’Neill mentioned after the game, “Hopefully the shutouts lead to wins and not ties.”

Upcoming matches:

8/22 vs St. Thomas

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Ohio (0-0-1)

8/15 at Butler (D)

The defending MAC tournament champions would travel to Indianapolis to take on Butler. The Bulldogs are always a tough matchup for MAC teams, as they’ve gone 7-2-1 over their last ten matches against the conference (exhibitions not included). Neither team could produce a goal in the first half. In the 58th minute, Ohio’s Rayann Pruss would put the Bobcats ahead 1-0. Not long after, in the 63rd minute, Butler would equalize. The score would end 1-1. Ohio goalkeepers Celeste Sloma and Molly Piso would combine for seven saves.

Upcoming matches:

8/20 at Northern Kentucky
8/25 at Michigan State

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Toledo (0-1-1)

8/15 at IU Indy (D)
8/18 vs Cincinnati (L)

The Rockets traveled to take on the IU Indy Jaguars. For context, IU Indy used to be named IUPUI. The Jaguars took the lead in the 11th minute, and kept that 1-0 lead through the first half. The shot totals were even at three after the first 45. Toledo would turn up the intensity, but still couldn’t find the net early in the second half. In the 79th minute, however, Toledo’s Kaema Amachree would get Toledo’s equalizer unassisted. Despite having the shot advantage 12-2 in the second half, Toledo would only come up with a draw to open the season.

The Rockets then welcomed the Cincinnati Bearcats for their home opener, which also happened to be senior day. We send our congratulations to Chloe Tadolini, Olivia Dault, Miranda Sullivan, Alexys LaDue, Jenna Foley, and McKenna Schultz!

Toledo Athletics

Cincinnati would strike first in the 18th minute, and maintained their 1-0 advantage into the halftime break. Toledo would equalize with 25 minutes to go, as Gabby Anulare would be assisted by Chloe Tadolini. Cincinnati would score again in the 71st minute, and the 78th minute to go up 3-1. Toledo would score in the 80th minute to cut the deficit to 3-2. Anulare, with an assist from Tadolini, would give Toledo a little bit of life. It would not be enough as the Rockets fell 3-2 to the Bearcats.

Upcoming matches:

8/25 at Northwestern

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Western Michigan (1-0-0)

8/15 vs Northern Kentucky (W)

The defending regular season champions welcomed Northern Kentucky to Kalamazoo. After some back and forth, with Western Michigan really controlling the game, Abby Werthman would net the opening goal in the 26th minute. With assists from Jenna Blackburn and Heidi Thomasma, the Broncos held their 1-0 advantage to the end of the first half. In the 51st minute, Jen Blitchok would score her first of the season off assists from Emily Pagett and Abby Werthman. In the 64th minute, Blitchok would score her second of the night with assists from Brooke Bailey and Kent State transfer Callie Cunningham. After all was said and done, Western Michigan opened the season with a 3-0 victory, leading the shot totals 31-10. Northern Michigan transfer Ava Wilberding made her Bronco debut with a six save shutout.

Upcoming matches:

8/22 vs Iowa
8/25 vs Marquette

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MAC Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week

Taylor Hamlett, Fifth-Year Senior forward, Miami

The Mars, Pennsylvania native opened her season with a bang. She leads the MAC in goals (4), points (10), and co-leads in assists (2)

Defensive Player of the Week

Ava Wilberding, Junior Goalkeeper, Western Michigan

The Grand Rapids, Michigan native stopped all six shots in her Bronco debut to propel Western Michigan to a 3-0 shutout over Northern Kentucky.

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Goal of the Week

Our goal of the week goes to Akron’s Morgan Pentz. The redshirt senior scored a free kick to give Akron a season opening win.