Soccer Engages in High-Scoring Affair in 4-3 Loss at Akron

Thursday, October 9

Akron, Ohio / FirstEnergy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Central Michigan University

0-11-2, 0-5-2

Akron

4-6-3, 1-4-2

Central Mich.

Akron

Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography

10/9/2025 8:59:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Full Game Book (PDF)

Chippewas and Zips match highest-scoring total in series history

By: Harrison LaLone

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — A series that had logged just one goal over its three previous matches saw offenses explode in a 4-3 match out of Central Michigan Soccer's favor in Mid-American Conference play Thursday night at Akron.

The Chippewas had three new goal scorers for the season with strikes from Ella Betzold (Essexville, Mich. / Garber) in the ninth minute, Rachel Jackson (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) in the final minute of the first half and Ella Dykstra (St. Joseph, Mich. / Saint Joseph) in the 74^th.

Betzold's goal drew first blood in the contest as Gabriella Sapia (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson) carried the ball down the left sideline and crossed in for Melaina Troy (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) to set the table. The sophomore's mark stands as the fastest CMU goal since Claudia Muessig's eighth-minute goal at Purdue Fort Wayne last season (9/11/24), the first of six in that contest.

Jackson flew solo as the clock ticked to the one-minute mark in the first, swiped an Akron midfielder of the ball and fired from straight away beyond the 18'. Her goal was the first unassisted tally for CMU since Oct. 18, 2024 vs. Bowling Green and marked the first two-goal half since Sept. 26, 2024 at Northern Illinois—Jackson was the second goal in the second half of that contest as well.

Dykstra's first goal as a Chippewa capitalized on a sour clear attempt from the Zips, headed forward by Maggie Van Wagnen (Napoleon, Mich. / Napoleon) for the transfer sophomore to head in from the right post.

The trio of Chippewa scorers joined Troy and Jimena Perez Ayala (Monterrey, Mexico / ASF Monterrey) to mark the first time since 2021 that the season's first five goals were each collected by a different player.

CMU and Akron combined for seven goals in a contest for just the second time in series history: Central Michigan took a 4-3 victory in 2003. The series had only seen a fifth goal in a match one other time: an Akron 3-2 victory in 2016.

The Chippewas posted three goals in a MAC contest for the first time since the 2021 fall season (vs. Ohio; W, 3-2) and the first in a MAC road game since the 2021 spring campaign (at NIU; W, 3-0).

The difference for Akron came via back-to-back first-half goals between Betzold and Jackson. From then on, the Chippewas battled to level the contest on each of their final two scores. CMU was done in by the second goal by Akron's Jordanne Oberhaus in the 84^th minute.

Central Michigan Soccer remains on the road to visit Buffalo Sunday afternoon (1 p.m. ET) before it returns to host Kent State (Oct. 16, 7 p.m. ET) for its breast cancer awareness match.

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