2024 MACtion on the Pitch: Week 2

Highlighted by a top 10 upset, women’s soccer continues along with their early regular season matchups.

Welcome back to MACtion on the Pitch, your weekly recap of Mid-American Conference women’s soccer. If you thought Week 1 was great, buckle up for Week 2! Let’s take a look at the week that was.

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Akron (3-0-1)

8/22 vs Oakland (W)
8/25 vs Wright State (W)

Akron welcomed Oakland to FirstEnergy Stadium. Neither team found an early advantage, and went into the break level at 0-0. Akron held the shot advantage, 5-1. 2:26 into the second half, Akron’s Ella Hadley scored her second goal of the season (Rachel Wenzel and Morgan Pentz assists). Hadley’s goal was enough to give the Zips a 1-0 win. Goalkeepers Penelope Cuirinier and Sara Bower each tallied a save in the combined shutout.

For the next game, the Raiders of Wright State took on the Zips. Just like the Oakland game, neither team could net an early score. The game was level at 0-0, with the Zips having an 8-6 shot advantage. In the 58th minute, Akron’s Anna Simmons broke the deadlock (Kaitlyn Rogowski and Ella Hadley assists). That goal was enough to give the Zips another 1-0 victory on the season. Cuirinier made both saves on the way to another combines shutout with Bower.

Akron Athletics

This is Akron’s best start since 2015, when they also started 3-0-1. They now have an extended break before their next matchup.

Upcoming matches:

9/5 at Robert Morris

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Ball State (1-1-0)

8/20 vs Indiana (L)

Ball State welcomed the Indiana Hoosiers to Muncie on a rare Tuesday game day. It’s the first time that the Cardinals have faced the Hoosiers in the regular season since 2022. Both teams walked away with a draw in that matchup. It only took about six minutes for the Hoosiers to score their first two goals. In the 29th minute, Ball State’s Addie Chester would score her first of the season (Ainsley Schaufele and Kaitlyn Fraser assists). It was ultimately not enough, as the Cardinals fell 2-1 to Indiana.

Upcoming matches:

8/29 at Butler
9/1 at Michigan

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Bowling Green (2-1-0)

8/22 vs Findlay (W)
8/25 at Duquesne (L)

The Falcons welcomed the D-II Findlay Oilers to Cochrane Stadium. BG’s Lexi Czerwien would get the opener (assisted by Michelle Hochstadt and Christine Erdman) just six-and-a-half minutes into the match to give BG the early lead. The Falcon defense would hold strong to keep the game 1-0 at the half. No more scoring would happen until the 87th minute, when Emme Butera scored a great goal to double the advantage for the Falcons. 32 seconds later, Findlay conceded a penalty. Emily Hollar converted, giving the Falcons a 3-0 win at home. Madison Vukas would only need to make one save in the shutout. Check out Butera’s goal:

Bowling Green would then travel to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne. The hosts would take the lead in the 19th minute, and score again in the 68th minute. The Falcons were unable to find the back of the net, and were shut out 2-0.

Upcoming matches:

9/1 at Loyola Chicago

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#25 Buffalo (2-0-0)

8/22 at #7 Pittsburgh (W)

The Bulls traveled to face Pittsburgh for the third time in as many seasons. Buffalo lost to the Panthers in the 2022 NCAA Tournament 1-0, and in the 2023 opener 2-1, but losing was not in the cards for 2024.

The Bulls struck first in the 10th minute when Kaya Schultz found the ball at her foot, and put it in the back of the net. The Panthers would equalize in the 24th minute to make the score 1-1 through the first 45 minutes. In the 58th minute, Jasmine Guerber would put the Bulls back on top (assisted by Kelly Severini and Schultz). 2-1 would be the final score, and Buffalo would fly the flag for their first top-10 win in program history. It’s also Buffalo’s first win over Pittsburgh since 1996.

With this win, the Bulls are now ranked #25 in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings.

Upcoming matches:

8/29 at Cornell

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Central Michigan (1-1-0)

8/25 vs Cincinnati (W)

The Chippewas hosted the Bearcats for their 2024 home opener.

Central only needed 48 seconds for a quick start, as Caitlin Gill scored the opener. Jocelin Zimmerer would double the Chippewa advantage in the 12th minute, (assisted by Jenna Little). Cincinnati would get one back in the 44th minute, but that would not be enough. With no goals in the second half, Central Michigan would fly the flag against the Big 12, taking down Cincinnati 2-1.

Upcoming matches:

8/29 at TCU
9/1 at Texas

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Eastern Michigan (3-0-0)

8/22 at Illinois-Chicago (W)
8/25 vs Youngstown State (W)

The Eagles would travel to Chicago to take on UIC. The Flames took the lead in the 14th minute. That 1-0 lead would hold, with UIC holding the shot advantage at 9-1. 2:18 into the second half, the Flames would double their lead to 2-0, making it harder for Eastern to come back. However, that’s what Eastern did. Maddie O’Farrell got the Eagles on the board in the 50th minute, and Olivia Sipsock (Josie Langhans and Scarlett Thomas assists) would equalize in the 63rd minute. It looked like the game was heading for a draw, until Sarah Van Euwen gave the Eagles the win in the 89th minute. Eastern would escape Chicago with the 3-2 win.

Eastern would then return home to take on Youngstown state. This would be the Olivia Sipsock game. Sipsock would score her second of the season just eight seconds into the game (fastest goal in program history). She would score her second of the game in the 67th minute, bringing her total to three on the season. The Eagles would win 2-0, with Ella Holland making seven saves in the shutout.

This is Eastern Michigan’s first 3-0 start in 20 years.

Upcoming matches:

8/29 vs Purdue Fort Wayne
9/1 at Cincinnati

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Kent State (2-0-1)

8/25 vs Oakland (W)

Kent State welcomed the Golden Grizzlies to Dix Stadium. This game was all Golden Flashes from the start. 5:47 into the game, Samantha Miller (Alanna Raimondo assist) would score her second of the season. The halftime score would favor Kent State at 1-0. 5:55 into the second half, Ava Todd (Alisa Arthur assist) would double the advantage. In the 56th minute, Alisa Arthur would make it 3-0. Finally, in the 70th minute, Raimondo (Mary Kate Lape and Kate Thill assists) put the cherry on top to make it a 4-0 final.

Devin Paschall/Kent State Athletics

Upcoming matches:

8/29 at James Madison
9/1 at Colgate

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Miami (1-1-1)

8/22 at Indiana State (L)

Miami traveled to Terre Haute to take on the Sycamores. Indiana State would get on the board 8:03 into the game. The Sycamores doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute, and the 2-0 score would go final in favor of Indiana State. Miami had more chances in the second half, but couldn’t get over the slow start.

Upcoming matches:

8/29 vs Northern Kentucky
9/1 vs South Carolina

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Northern Illinois (1-0-1)

8/22 vs St. Thomas (W)

NIU welcomed the Tommies to DeKalb. The Huskies got on the board first in the 19th minute. Kelsi McLaughlin scored her first of the season (assisted by Lea Gruennagel and Aubrey Robertson). Check out their opening goal here:

St. Thomas equalized in the 24th minute, and the halftime break would see a 1-1 score. After halftime, it was all Huskies. Gruennagel scored in the 67th minute (Tyra King assist), Robertson converted a penalty 2:35 later, and Chantelle Parker added the fourth goal in the 84th minute (Reegan Kingpavong assist). After all was said and done, NIU took the win 4-1.

Upcoming matches:

8/29 vs Southern Indiana
9/1 at Oakland

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Ohio (1-1-1)

8/20 at Northern Kentucky (W)
8/25 at Michigan State (L)

Ohio traveled to Highland Heights, Kentucky to take on the Norse in what would turn out to be a scoring bonanza. The Bobcats only needed 5:26 to score first as Rayann Pruss (Ella Deevers assist) would find the back of the net. Maia Kaufman would double the Bobcat lead, and the 2-0 lead would hold at halftime. 2:05 into the second half, Jaimason Brooker would score Ohio’s third of the game. Reigning MAC Tournament MVP Scout Murray would score Ohio’s fourth goal of the game in the 56th minute (Jaimason Brooker assist). Ohio would pick up their first win of the year with the 4-0 victory over Northern Kentucky.

Ohio Athletics

Ohio then traveled to East Lansing for a rematch with the Spartans. The Spartans knocked the Bobcats out of the NCAA tournament last year by a final score of 3-0. While Ohio looked for a better performance, that November 2023 game would sort of repeat itself. Spartan goals in the 10th, 18th, and 90th minute would ultimately help Michigan State defeat Ohio again.

Upcoming matches:

9/1 at Valparaiso

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Toledo (0-2-1)

8/25 at Northwestern (L)

Toledo took the trip to Evanston to take on the Big Ten. Neither team would take advantage in the first 45 minutes. In the 55th minute, Northwestern would ultimately score the game winner, and Toledo walked away with a tough 1-0 loss in a valiant effort. Rocket goalkeeper Agnes Stenlund played all 90 minutes, and came up with three saves.

Upcoming matches:

8/30 vs Detroit Mercy

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Western Michigan (2-0-1)

8/22 vs Iowa (D)
8/25 vs Marquette (W)

The Broncos welcomed the #24 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes to Kalamazoo. The Hawkeyes only needed 2:34 to take the early lead. Western would equalize in the 30th minute. Jen Blitchok would score to make the score 1-1 (Heidi Thomasma and Abby Werthman assisting). After much back and forth, the final would stay at 1-1. Western would walk away with a hard fought draw against a nationally ranked squad.

Western would then welcome Marquette. The Broncos have not defeated Marquette since the 2013 NCAA Tournament (0-2 in two matchups), and were looking for a big win. Neither team would gain an advantage, and the halftime score would be 0-0. Western would hold the shot advantage 7-2. In the 63rd minute, Jen Blitchok would score the opener (Abby Werthman assist). Just over seven minutes later, Jaden Peck would double the Bronco advantage (Madi Canada and Emily Pagett assists). In the 80th minute, Blitchok would score her fifth goal of the season (Jenna Blackburn and Madi Canada assists), and the Broncos would take the win 3-0. Check out the goals here:

The Broncos earned their first win over Marquette in almost 11 years. Goalkeeper Ava Wilberding only had to make two saves for her second shutout of the season.

Upcoming matches:

8/29 at Creighton
9/1 at Wisconsin

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MAC Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week

Jen Blitchok, graduate forward, Western Michigan

The Grandville, Michigan native earned her second career Offensive Player of the Week award. Scoring three goals this past week, one against Iowa and two against Marquette, she’s now at five goals (leads NCAA).

Defensive Player of the Week

Lexie Thompson, sophomore goalkeeper, Buffalo

The Levittown, New York native recorded a career-high nine saves in the Bulls’ historic win against the #7 Pittsburgh Panthers. Thompson has recorded ten total saves on the season so far.

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Goal of the Week

It was a contest for this week’s best goal. Ultimately, we had to give it to Buffalo’s Jasmine Guerber. The Memphis transfer scored the game winner to lift Buffalo over #7 Pittsburgh!

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Moments of the Week

We extend our congratulations to Akron head coach Jen Simonetti for securing her 50th career coaching win!

We also want to congratulate Buffalo’s Lexie Thompson and Kaya Schultz! Both were named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Team of the Week, with Schultz being named honorable mention.

Also, a late congratulations to Miami’s Taylor Hamlett for earning a spot in the Top Drawer team of the week on August 19th!