ROCHESTER, Mich. – At 2-0 for the first time since the 2014 season, Oakland University Women's Soccer is primed for its home opener with Akron on Thursday, August 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the OU Soccer Field.

Noemi Stadelmann earned the team's, and Oakland's, first #HLWSOC Defensive Player of the Week after posting two shutouts as the Golden Grizzlies won the season openers against DePaul and Kent State with eight saves in 16 shots faced.

Jayna Fraser has gotten off four shots as the forward recorded the first goal of the season against the Blue Demons. Jules Karkaba earned her paws against Kent State as the freshman has appeared in one game and recorded her first goal in a Golden Grizzlies uniform off one shot. Lastly, Sami Lopez and Alexa Sabbagh tie the team-high in shots taken at six though the former of the two got into the scoring column against KSU. 

The United Soccer Coaches revealed its week one North Region Poll on August 23 with Oakland the No. 6 team in the region just behind Michigan and above Indiana, respectively.

Oakland is currently 157th in the NCAA RPI as the second Horizon League team listed behind Milwaukee.

SCOUTING REPORT

Fresh off a 2-2 tie against Marshall, the Zips are in the midst of a three-game road stretch with Oakland sandwiched between the aforementioned Thundering Herd and a trip to Eastern Kentucky. Oakland is the second Horizon League team Akron will face after having beaten Youngstown State in the season opener 1-0 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Zips offense is evenly spread between three student-athletes at designated positions across the field. Caitlin Bruni, Emma King, and Morgan Pentz hold all three goals scored this season for Akron off a combined eight shots. In goal, Penelope Cuirinier has recorded six saves in 29 shots faced. 

Oakland is 2-0 all-time against Akron.

 

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NATIONAL RECOGNITION
The United Soccer Coaches revealed its week one North Region Poll on August 23 with Oakland the No. 6 team in the region just behind Michigan and above Indiana, respectively.

FAVERO CONTRACT EXTENDED
Head Coach Juan Pablo Favero's contract has been extended through the 2026 season, Oakland University announced in August.

PRESEASON NO. 1
Oakland was selected as the preseason favorite in the 2022 #HLWSOC Preseason Poll with 115 votes and five first-place votes. 

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Seven newcomers enter the 2022 Golden Grizzlies roster on both sides of the field including transfer Allie Tefend and freshman Anuhea Aluli from Hawaii. 

LOPEZ PLAYER TO WATCH
Midfielder Sami Lopez is one of 38 women named to an exclusive list that is the NCAA Division I Players to Watch release which included four returning All-Americans from a year ago. Lopez is the only Horizon League student-athlete mentioned. 

FOUR ON 2021 #HLWSOC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
Lopez and Zak find themselves on the All-League First Team roster with Dhlamini on the Second Team List in 2021. Rounding out the honors was Sharon Sampson on the All-Freshman Team squad. 

NATIONAL TEAM - GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Dhlamini and Sharon Sampson are two Golden Grizzlies playing on the national stage as Dhlamini's South African National Team won the 2022 WAFCON final to qualify for the Women's World Cup in 2023. Sampson made a roster spot on the U-20 "Black Princess of Ghana" National team, playing in the 2022 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Costa Rica.