DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team was held to a 0-0 draw by Akron on Thursday night (Sept. 25) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Lauren Pearson (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) made three saves to record her first collegiate shutout in goal for the Huskies. 

"When you don't score goals (sometimes) it can be a mental block and I think some of our players are struggling with that," said NIU head coach Michael O'Neill. "It is going to take a scrappy, deflected goal, I can imagine, just to get the weight off everyone's shoulders. If we weren't creating chances, if we weren't getting into the right area, it would be a different thought process. It doesn't make it any easier to accept, but when you get in those areas you have to keep the perseverance, keep plugging away and that will be our plan on Sunday."

Pearson was called upon to make a save in the early moments of the contest as Jordanne Oberhaus fired a shot from long distance that was comfortably held by the NIU goalkeeper. 

NIU also had an early look at goal as Alyssa Stephenson (Oakville, Ontario/St. Ignatius of Loyola) turned her defender to create space for a shot that was stopped by Akron goalkeeper Ariana Vakos. 

In the ninth minute, Pearson made an outstanding save as Akron (3-3-3, 0-1-2 MAC) whipped a corner in toward the six-yard box and Emma King had a shot in traffic that was stopped by Pearson and she quickly pounced on the ball to avoid giving up a chance on the rebound. 

It was the final attempt on target by either team in the opening half as NIU and Akron went 35 minutes without a shot on goal. 

Less than five minutes into the second stanza, Mya Newcombe (Carlisle, Ontario/Waterdown District) cut in from the right wing and fired a shot from about 20 yards that forced a save from Vakos down to her left. 

NIU (2-4-3, 0-1-2 MAC) continued to have the majority of the possession, particularly in the first half of the second 45 minutes but was just unable to find the final moment to earn the breakthrough. 

The hosts continued to press for a goal to break the deadlock all the way to the final whistle and nearly found it in the 89th minute as a shot from Kelsi McLaughlin (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) from outside the box was palmed away by Vakos. The rebound fell into a dangerous area but the Huskies just couldn't get a clean look at goal. 

In the final minute, NIU had one more opportunity as Stephenson slipped a pass into the run of Newcombe but her shot from a tight angle was fought off by Vakos as NIU and Akron had to settle for a draw.

"We threw the kitchen sink at (Akron)," said O'Neill. "We put wingers at outside back, we put big center backs at center forward. I knew the importance of one goal to win and I was prepared to lose it for that. That sounds crazy but we are in a position where we need to win games."

NIU will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 28, when the Huskies travel to UMass for the first all-time meeting between the two schools. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+.