The Kent State women’s soccer team remains winless so far in their 2019 campaign, as they fall to the University of Denver 1-0.

The team once again failed to score for 90 minutes, and failed to defend well on corner kicks throughout the game.

The team gave up 18 corner kicks in this game, including one that would give the pioneers an early goal in minute 38 from midfielder Hannah Adler.

“We defended pretty well in this game,” coach Rob Marinaro said, “but when you give up a goal early it’s hard to gain momentum.”

Early fouls on sophomore Khyla Porter in minute 15 and junior Cameron Shedenhelm in minute 17 did not help the Flashes cause.

“Little things,” Marinaro said. “You can’t do that against a team of high caliber like Denver.”

Two nights before, the Flashes were able to gain their first goal of the season via redshirt sophomore Karly Hellstrom against the Colorado Buffalos.

With the lack of scoring by the team in their first three games, what keeps them in games is the goalkeeping of Canadian sophomore Faith O’Neill. O’Neill had seven saves in the last two games. Marinaro spoke of her importance of keeping his team in games late Saturday night.

“Faith came up with big stops, she gives us the opportunity to stay in games.”

With three offensive players out for the season, Marinaro feels the team needs to find their identity offensively, and they will continue to “build on the attack.” 

With two straight losses the team now falls to 0-2-2. The Flashes will return home from their early two-game road trip against Colorado schools to face an in-state opponent at Dix stadium this Friday against the Xavier Musketeers at 7:00 p.m.

Dante Centofanti is a sports reporter. Contact him at [email protected].