Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
4-8-1, 1-3-0MAC
Akron
1-9-2, 0-4-0MAC
Penalty Kick Propels EMU Past Akron
10/1/2017 3:13:00 PM | Soccer
Parys Kerr had the game-winning goal to snap Eagle's five-game losing streak
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - An 83rd minute penalty kick goal off the foot of freshman Parys Kerr (Whitby, Ontario-Pickering) snapped the Eastern Michigan University soccer team's five-game losing streak Sunday, Oct. 1, at Scicluna Field. The Eagles (4-8-1, 1-3-0 MAC) earned its first Mid-American Conference win of the season with a 2-1 victory over the University of Akron behind goals by Kerr and redshirt junior Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson).
Despite being out-shot by the Zips (1-9-2, 0-3-1 MAC), 13-11, the Eagles edged out Akron with a pair of second half strikes. Nason gave the Green and White the equalizer with Kerr's goal sealing the victory. Freshman Madeline Olson (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) also had an outstanding game with all three of her shots making it on the frame.
On the defensive edge, junior Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka) posted five saves off eight shots, while a pair of defenders notched a pair of team saves.
An EMU miscue on an attempt to clear the ball resulted in the only goal of the first half as the Zips made the most of the opportunity. Looking to clear the ball from its own 18, a mistouch by the Eagles gave the Zips a 1-on-1 chance inside the box. Taking a touch, Akron's Ally Brown slotted a shot outside the reach of Williams in the 29th minute to take an early lead.
Eastern Michigan strung together a few solid chances in the final minutes of the half, but attempts by freshmen Marla Cobetto (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) and Kerr were off the mark.
Behind 1-nil out of the break, the Eagles attacked the Zips from the get-go, culminating in a 49th-minute equalizer. Junior Mia Colavito (Mississauga, Ontario-Loyola Catholic) possessed the ball in the midfield and quickly played a ball over the top to Kerr, who flicked it on to a wide open Nason on the opposite side of the box. Taking a touch, Nason sent the ball past the UA keeper to level the score at one. The goal was the first of the season for Nason and the eighth of her career, while it also marked Kerr's third assist and Colavito's first point of her career.
Akron attempted to regain the lead but Williams rejected its attempt, breaking up several offensive plays and saving three shots in the first 10 minutes of the half. Eastern Michigan endured back-to-back free kicks in the 62nd minute as UA earned a pair of set piece opportunities just outside the 18. The first was blocked by EMU's wall of defenders and the second was punched away by Williams to maintain the even score.
Each team survived close calls on each end of the pitch over the next 20 minutes as the teams began getting more physical.
Dribbling into the box on the near sideline, Nason was taken down by an Akron defender, earning a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. Kerr received the call from the bench and stepped up to the ball, firing a shot to the near post. Netting the first goal of her career, Kerr's PK proved to be the difference as EMU outlasted Akron, 2-1.
Eastern hosts Bowling Green State University Thursday, Oct. 5, in a rare mid-week MAC contest. Kickoff from Scicluna Field is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Ally Brown (1)
Assisted By: Erica Schrader
Turn over in the box leads to a goal
27:17
NASON,KRISTIN (1)
Assisted By: KERR,PARYS , COLAVITO,MIA
low cross into the box for a tap in
48:57
KERR,PARYS (1)
EMU KERR,PARYS PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 1 for season.
82:07
