2024 MACtion on the Pitch: Week 10

Another short week saw Western Michigan remain the only unbeaten team in the MAC

Welcome back to MACtion on the Pitch, your weekly recap of Mid-American Conference women’s soccer.

We have another short week to recap. This is the last short recap before decision day as we like to call it in the world of soccer.

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Toledo at Ohio (1-0 Toledo)

With 5:34 left in the first half, Brooklyn Whitehead would score the match winner for the Rockets. Despite Ohio leading 8-3 in shots on goal, the Bobcats would not score. This was the first conference loss for Ohio. Agnes Stenlund would stop all eight shots for the Rockets.

Celeste Sloma made two saves for the Bobcats. Toledo is now in a tie for fifth place in the MAC standings

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Kent State at Buffalo (2-2 Draw)

In the 12th minute, Alisa Arthur would put Kent State up 1-0 (Jules Dolinski assist). Just over a minute later, Sarah Woods would equalize for Buffalo (Kaya Schultz assist), with the 1-1 score being preserved at the halftime break. 7:25 into the second half, Addy Kusick would put the Flashes back in the lead (Dolinski assist). In the 70th minute, Maya Galko would make the score 2-2. Check out the equalizer:

The final whistle would sound, and both teams walked away with the draw.

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Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois (2-1 Northern Illinois)

Sophia Baumann would put Eastern Michigan up 1-0 (Hannah Thompson assist) in the 37th minute to give the Eagles the halftime lead. 2:27 into the second half, Isabel Struble would equalize for the Huskies. In the 57th minute, Abby Zipse would score the match winner for the Huskies (Mckenna Campbell-Turkalj assist). NIU would earn their second MAC victory, while Eastern Michigan dropped their third MAC loss. Check out both NIU goals:

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Akron at Western Michigan (2-0 Western Michigan)

The Broncos held the 1-0 lead at halftime thanks to a Abby Werthman would score the opener for the Broncos (Jen Blitchok and Jenna Blackburn assists). 5:36 into the second half, Werthman would score her second goal of the day (Maya Dean and Sammi Glover assists). Check out both of Werthman’s goals:

The Broncos would remain unbeaten, while Akron remained winless. Lauren Boafo made two saves in the shutout. Sara Bower would make 16 saves for the Zips.

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Bowling Green at Central Michigan (2-1 Central Michigan)

Central would strike first in the 22nd minute with Claudia Muessig’s fifth goal of the season putting the Chips up 1-0. The score would hold at halftime. 6:11 into the second half, Brynn Gardner would equalize for the Falcons (Isabelle Gilmore and Emma Stransky assists). Both teams would hold strong throughout most of the second half. With 3:49 left, Lauren Walker would score the match winner for the Chippewas (Jaelyn Dobrowolski and Gabriella Sapia assists). Check out Walker’s goal:

With the victory, Central Michigan would jump to fourth in the standings, while BG fell to fifth.

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Ball State at Miami (3-2 Miami)

This one was a wild one. Ball State only needed 13:39 to find the opening goal, as Avery Fenchel would score the opener (Jordyn Jeffers assist). 7:40 into the second half, Delaney Caldwell would make the score 2-0 Ball State (Addie Chester assist). Ball State was flying high, but Miami said not so fast. In the 70th minute, Taylor Hamlett would start the comeback for Miami (Morhea Hoefen assist). 3:33 later, Makenna Morrison would score the equalizer (Hamlett assist). Check out the equalizer:

Finally, with 7:44 left, Hamlett would score the match winner (Kylee Beinecke assist) to allow Miami to walk away with a 3-2 thriller.

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Standings

Here’s what the standings look like after eight MAC games:

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Statistical Leaders

Let’s take a look at some of our stat leaders after this short week:

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Goal of the Week

Our goal of the week goes to Miami’s Taylor Hamlett. Her second goal of the game was the match winner against Ball State.

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Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week

• Taylor Hamlett, fifth year forward, Miami

The Mars, Pennsylvania native notched two goals and one assist, scoring the match winner against Ball State. She also set the program record for shots in a game with 16. She ranks second in the MAC for shots, goals, and points. This is Hamlett’s second offensive player of the week honor.

Defensive Player of the Week

• Agnes Stenlund, junior goalkeeper, Toledo

The Finspång, Sweden native made an eight-save shutout against the undefeated Bobcats, her seventh total shutout on the season. This is Stenlund’s second defensive player of the week honor.

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Moment of the Week

Our moment of the week goes to Western Michigan. Their MAC regular season unbeaten has reached 20 games, dating back two full years.