DeKALB | Women’s soccer (4-7-3, 3-3-1 Mid-American Conference) and the University of Akron Zips (3-9-3, 0-4-3 MAC) played to a 0-0 draw Friday night at the Soccer and Track and Field Complex.

Neither team was able to get much going offensively in the first half, with NIU registering two shots on goal — the only shots on goal for the game for either team to this point. Six minutes into the match, sophomore forward Taylor Sarver took a shot, but Akron senior goalkeeper Annabelle Hegeman came out for a save.

In the 23rd minute, freshman forward Natalie Yaas served a free kick into the box for freshman midfielder Kelsey Chope. Chope was able to get her head on the ball for a good shot, but Hegeman made the save.

The first corner kick of the game was taken 11 minutes into the second half by NIU. Yaas centered the ball in, but the Huskies were not able to capitalize, and Akron received a goal kick.

Freshman forward Abby Gregg took her third shot on goal of the season with 15 minutes left to play in the game, but Hegeman recorded another save. NIU head coach John Ross said he was very happy with the team’s performance and how the team set the tone and the pace of the game.

“We had some opportunities [on offense],” Ross said. “We needed to just get a couple more runners in the box.”

With 14 minutes to play, Akron recorded its first shot on goal, but NIU junior goalkeeper Amy Annala made the save.

With less than 10 minutes left in regulation, Zips’ sophomore midfielder Erica Schrader took a corner kick, but Annala was able to swat the ball out of danger, and the match went into overtime.

With three minutes left in the first overtime period, NIU senior defender Alex Elias connected with a streaking Sarver, but Sarver’s shot was deflected by Hegeman.

At the start of the second overtime, Akron switched goalkeepers, and redshirt freshman Samara Yurchak entered the match to replace Hegeman.

Neither team could score during the second overtime period, causing the match to end in a draw.

NIU’s next game is 3 p.m. Thursday against the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio.