Senior Night is an event many student-athletes look forward to, and it seems certain Mid-American Conference (MAC) teams were looking forward to Senior Night more than others.
Akron at Ball State:
This match would be decided by a barrage of goals within ten minutes of each other. The good-ahead goal was made by Tori Maco, and the game-winner by Annika Klauss, with her first goal of the season.
With this win, Ball State now has back-to-back shutout wins after defeating Eastern Michigan 1-0 on Thursday (Oct. 9) and has hopes to continue this streak on Thursday (Oct. 16) as they take on the Toledo Rockets.
After this loss, Akron won’t play until next Sunday, Oct 19, continuing their road trip to face an eighth-place Eastern Michigan.
Eastern Michigan at UMass:
Proving to be a stalemate, neither team would make a shot on goal the entire first half, with UMass holding the advantage with five shots, Eastern Michigan taking three. Things would pick up in the second half, UMass having eight shots on goal and Eastern Michigan having three, but it would be to no avail as this game would end in a 0-0 draw.
Eastern Michigan continues this road trip, taking on in-state rival Western Michigan, who’ve recently lost their 29-game unbeaten streak against MAC opponents.
UMass will be prepping for its final two MAC games on the road, first facing off against Miami University on Thursday, Oct. 16.
NIU at Kent State:
Kent State extended its win streak to three games after defeating Northern Illinois 1-0, making Senior Night a little sweeter for the Golden Flashes. Outshooting Northern Illinois 12-6, Kent State had the upper hand thanks to a penalty in the 68th minute.
Next up for Kent State is a two-day road trip, starting with Central Michigan on Thursday, Oct 16. As for Northern Illinois, their road trip continues, matched up against Bowling Green also on Thursday, Oct 16.
Central Michigan at Buffalo:
Buffalo’s dominance would not be denied in this matchup as the Bulls outshot Central Michigan 21-3, with 10-2 on goal.
“This senior class has the chance to do something special, something that has never been done for our program, and that is what makes them special,” said Buffalo head coach Shawn Burke. “This group rewrote the standard and has helped propel this program into an elite level.”
Buffalo will be looking to get back on their tear as it goes on the road to face Ohio University on Thursday, Oct. 16.
Central Michigan will be on the road next Sunday (Oct. 19), taking on Miami University.
Ohio at Toledo:
Although Ohio University will have the advantage, outshooting Toledo 15–7, Toledo would hold on, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 1-1 draw.
“I think we made some good adjustments in the second half. We were trying to get that second goal, and we had some chances in the second half,” said Toledo head coach Mark Batman. “I’m very happy with some kids getting shifts and getting some opportunity in the last couple of games. No complaints for effort in the second half, we just need to find a way to do that for 90.”
