Oct. 25, 2015

Box Score | Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University soccer team ended its scoring drought with three goals as it defeated Akron, 3-0, at home Sunday.

Sunday's victory snaps the RedHawks' (10-6-1, 6-3-1 MAC) three-match winless streak and moves them up to the fourth and final home seed for next weekend's MAC Tournament with one regular season contest left.

The RedHawks got the action going early in the first minute when junior Stephanie Dillon received the ball at the top of the box and sent a shot over the bar. MU had another chance soon after when senior midfielder Haley Walter made a run with the ball to the right side of the box. After a quick move to beat the defender marking her, she sent a low shot towards the corner of the goal only to be denied by the diving effort of Akron (6-11-1, 3-7 MAC) goalkeeper Annabelle Hegeman.

Ashley Weathers put the RedHawks on the scoreboard in the 32nd minute with her second goal of the season, ending a Miami scoring drought of 338:21. The play began when senior defender Lauren Kelly set up sophomore midfielder Kat Zalar down the left sideline. After a long run, Zalar played the ball into the middle of the box where Weathers collided with it. Hegeman was able to get a piece of the ball, but her efforts were in vain as the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Miami continued its trend of playing strong defense, limiting the Zips to only one good chance all half. Akron forward Sarah Sivic took a corner in the 37th minute that midfielder Katie George was able to get a head on. The ball seemed to be going into the net, only to be blocked by a RedHawk defender and eventually cleared out of the box. Despite having six shots in the half, none of the Zips shots forced Miami's junior goalkeeper Vic Maniaci to make a save.

Momentum stayed with the RedHawks throughout the second half as they were able to capitalize on two of their chances.

Miami doubled its lead in the 60th minute through a goal by Dillon. The goal was set up when junior midfielder Jenna Weiner sent the ball down the right side to Walter, who maneuvered her way towards the edge of the box. From there she sent the ball to the feet of Dillon who had sealed the defender marking her. Dillon made a beautiful turn to lose her defender and found herself wide open as she comfortably sent the ball into the goal from six yards out.

The RedHawks made it a three-goal lead in the 63rd minute when junior forward Rachel Marble scored her fourth goal of the season. The play began when junior midfielder Shannon Stearns sent the ball to Dillon near midfield. Dillon proceeded to make a run down the left sideline before crossing the ball all the way across the field to the waiting feet of Marble who comfortably beat Hegeman on her first touch.

Akron had a good chance to get on the scoreboard in the 66th minute when midfielder Hannah Werth took a free kick from 25 yards out. She elected to go for goal, and it was only Maniaci tipping the ball over the crossbar that kept her shutout intact. While the Zips outshot the RedHawks 13-11 on the afternoon only two of the Zips shots were on goal. Maniaci notched her eighth solo shutout of the season by making one save

The RedHawks wrap up regular season play when they return to action on Thursday against Ball State at 1 p.m. in Oxford.