Soccer wins in double OT

In the end, mistakes hurt the Akron Zips.

The CMU soccer team earned its second victory of the weekend, defeating Akron 1-0 off the Zips’ own goal in the second overtime.

Central outshot Akron 22-5 for the game, but could not get a shot off in the first overtime. However, one minute into the second overtime, the ball found the back of the net after a CMU deep throw-in that deflected off an Akron player without touching a CMU player.

It marks the first time since 2005 CMU won its first two Mid-American conference road games after also defeating Ohio 4-0 on Friday.

“It is very important to start the first MAC weekend with two wins,” said senior forward Molly Gerst.
Senior midfielder Stephanie Martin said the win was important because of the team’s struggles on the road in past seasons.

“It’s critical, especially on the road,” she said. “In the past, we might win at home, and then we played on the road and we would fall apart.”

Martin led Central in shots with eight, but said with a little more practice and game time, she will be playing at her peak.

“I thought I played pretty well,” she said. “I just didn’t finish my chances.”

Junior Shay Mannino turned away the only shot on net during the game for the Zips early in first half to record her fifth shutout of the season. The win also is Central’s fifth straight shutout.

Martin said she credits the team’s determination for being able to win a game that could have easily gone the other way.

“I thought we play with a lot of heart,” she said. “We played well and we grinded through it.”

The win also gave Central a 2-0 start in MAC play for the second consecutive season. A year ago, CMU started 2-0, then went on to win its next three games until tying Buffalo 2-2 on Oct. 12.

Hat Trick for Gerst

On Friday night, the seniors showed why they are important to the team in the 4-0 victory over Ohio.

Senior forward Molly Gerst scored three goals for a hat trick, and Martin tied the school’s record for career points on a goal from fellow senior Amanda Waugh, her first of the season.

Gerst started the game off quickly with her first goal coming just 2 minutes and 11 seconds into the game with an assist from junior Valerie Prause.

In a first half where Central outshot Ohio 7-5, CMU added two more goals when Gerst scored in the 23rd minute. Waugh scored less than nine minutes later.

Ohio managed to stay even with CMU in shots in the second half, with each team having eight.

Central plays at 4 p.m. Friday against Kent State at the CMU Soccer Complex.