2024 MACtion on the Pitch: Week 7

After a thrilling start to the conference season, the second week of MAC play brought a slight shakeup to the standings.

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

Two weeks of MACtion have come and gone. Let’s recap this past week of conference play!

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Central Michigan at Northern Illinois (2-0 Central Michigan)

The Chippewas would travel to DeKalb to take on the Huskies. Neither team would find a first half advantage, and the halftime score would stay 0-0. In the 58th minute, Central Michigan’s Jocelin Zimmerer would score the opener (Lauren Walker assist). 2:41 later Rachel Jackson would increase the Chippewa advantage to 2-0 (Ashley Scesniak assist). Central Michigan would remain unbeaten in MAC play, with Allison LaPoint making two saves in the shutout. NIU’s Ary Purifoy made three saves. Here was the second goal for Central Michigan:

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Buffalo at Western Michigan (1-0 Western Michigan)

Buffalo would travel to Kalamazoo to take on Western Michigan. The Broncos dominated the shot total early, and took advantage with 9:46 left in the first half. Ava Beckett would score the opener (Emily Pagett and Jaden Peck assists). Buffalo would struggle to find the net. Western would hold on for the 1-0 win, handing Buffalo their first MAC loss. Bronco goalkeeper Lauren Boafo made four saves in the shutout. Buffalo’s Lexie Thompson made three saves.

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Toledo at Eastern Michigan (0-0 Draw)

The Eagles hosted the Rockets. This one is short and sweet, neither team would score. Rocket goalkeeper Agnes Stenlund made five saves while Eagles keeper Ella Holland made two saves.

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Ohio at Bowling Green (3-0 Ohio)

The Falcons would host the Bobcats at Cochrane Stadium. Neither team would find an early advantage. With 22 seconds left, Ohio’s Sydney Crowe would score the opener, making the halftime score 1-0 for the Bobcats (Iro Fakinou assist). 3:42 into the second half, Anna Burchett would double the lead for Ohio (Jaimason Brooker assist). Rayann Pruss would make it 3-0 Ohio in the 83rd minute (Maia Kaufman assist). The Bobcats would win, with Celeste Sloma making six saves. Falcon keeper Madison Vukas made nine saves on twelve shots.

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Miami at Kent State (1-0 Miami)

The Flashes hosted the Redhawks at Dix Stadium. Kent State looked to stay unbeaten, while Miami was on the hunt for their first MAC win. Neither team could find an early advantage. With 6:27 left in the first half, Miami’s Millie Cook would net the opener and essentially the game winner (Emily Paul and Morhea Hoefen assists). Despite six shots on goal, Kent State would not score. Miami would earn their first MAC win. Dominique Popa made six saves for the Redhawks. Heidi Marshall would make two saves for Kent State.

David A. Cleveland/Kent State Athletics

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Ball State at Akron (1-0 Ball State)

Both teams were off to less than ideal starts in MAC play, with the Zips hosted the Cardinals. Could either get their first win?

Ball State would get on the board just 5:20 into the game. Addie Chester would score the opener, which was essentially the game winner (Avery Fenchel and Emily Roper assists). Akron would lose three in a row, with Penelope Cuirinier making five saves. Ball State would finally get a MAC win. Abby Jenkins made two saves in the combined shutout with Grace Konopatzki.

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Bowling Green at Miami (1-1 Draw)

Bowling Green would travel south to Oxford. Miami’s field was unplayable due to remnants of Hurricane Helene, so the match was delayed.

They ended up playing at Ross High School, south of Hamilton, Ohio. Neither team would find a first half advantage, and the halftime score would be 0-0. 10:22 into the second half, Lexi Czerwien would score the opener for the Falcons. Miami would struggle to find the net, despite holding the Falcons to four shots. With 4:19 to go, Miami’s Taylor Hamlett would score the equalizer. Both teams would walk away with the draw.

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Kent State at Ohio (0-0 Draw)

This match was one to watch, as it was a rematch of the 2023 tournament final. Neither team would score in the game, however, in what was largely a possession battle. Heidi Marshall made four saves for the Flashes. Celeste Sloma would make two saves for the Bobcats. Ohio stays unbeaten through four matches.

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Northern Illinois at Buffalo (3-0 Buffalo)

The Huskies and Bulls would face off in Buffalo. Jasmine Guerber would put the Bulls up in the 14th minute (Ellie Simmons and Kaya Schultz assists). Check out the opener here:

With 5:11 left in the first half, Arianna Zumpano would score Buffalo’s second goal of the game (Schultz and Laiken Kiser assists). Buffalo would lead 2-0 at halftime. In the 73rd minute, Zumpano would score her second goal of the game (Kiser assist). Buffalo would win 3-0, with Lexie Thompson making eight saves. Ary Purifoy would make four saves for the Huskies

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Akron at Toledo (1-0 Toledo)

The Zips and Rockets would face off. Neither team would score in the first half, keeping the halftime score at 0-0. 2:21 into the second half Kaema Amachree would score the game winner for the Rockets. Agnes Stenlund made four saves for the Rockets. Penelope Cuirinier made five saves in Akron’s fourth straight loss.

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Eastern Michigan at Ball State (0-0 Draw)

The Eagles would travel to Muncie and take on the Cardinals. Neither team would score, and both would earn a draw. Ella Holland would make three saves for Eastern Michigan. Abby Jenkins and Grace Konopatzki would combine for eight saves

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Western Michigan at Central Michigan (0-0 Draw)

This would end up being a battle of two unbeaten teams. Would both stay unbeaten? Or would one receive their first loss? Short and sweet, both teams would stay unbeaten. Bronco goalkeeper Lauren Boafo made two saves. Chippewa goalkeeper Allison LaPoint made three saves.

Lauren Verellen/CMU Athletics

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Standings

Here’s how the standings shape up after the first two conference games:

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MAC Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week

• Arianna Zumpano, senior forward, Buffalo

The Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada native scored two goals against Northern Illinois to propel the Bulls back into first place. She is second in the conference for shots on goal, and goals scored.

Defensive Players of the Week

• Agnes Stenlund, junior goalkeeper, Toledo

The Finspång, Sweden native posted two shutouts this week, giving her five shutouts on the year. She made five saves against Eastern Michigan, and four saves against Akron, dropping her goals against average (GAA) to 0.91 on the season.

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Goal of the Week

Our goal of the week goes to Buffalo’s Arianna Zumpano. She’s had a hard time getting the scoring going, but her first of the year deserves praise.

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Moments of the Week

Our moments of the week go to Buffalo’s Lexie Thompson. She made eight total saves against NIU, but these two were exceptional.