Over last weekend, the Kent State field hockey team showed great offensive stride in two games over the weekend despite a loss at home on Friday and an overtime win on Sunday.
Friday against Ohio University
On Friday, the Ohio University Bobcats visited Murphy-Mellis Field and beat the Flashes in a high-scoring contest of 6-4.
Despite the Flashes’ loss, the team recorded its second-best offensive output this season, recording 13 shots on goal.
“It was definitely a bummer to not get that win,” coach Heather Hefner said. “It was an important one, but I think we learned a lot from it, and I think we grew and still saw growth within it.”
Senior forward Emma Seger and Junior midfielder Eva Usoz both scored their fourth goal of the season in the first half of the game. Senior defender Lauren Conroy and Sophomore defender Marissa Skinner also contributed to the offensive success in the latter half of the game.
On the other side of the field, Goalkeeper Allison Wood recorded three saves, compared to the Bobcats’ sophomore goalkeeper Ash Stephensons’s seven.
In the face of the loss, Hefner remains hopeful about her team.
“It was definitely great to score some goals and show the girls that they have really been growing,” she said.
After Seger’s quick first quarter score, the Flashes saw four consecutive, unanswered goals from the Bobcats throughout the first half. In the second period, Usoz found the back of the net in order to even the score.
In an effort to rally a comeback, Skinner scored early in the fourth quarter, but efforts proved futile.
Sunday against Central Michigan
After the high-scoring contest at home, the Flashes travelled to Mount Pleasant, MI, to play another Mid-American Conference opponent, the Central Michigan Chippewas. The team marked its third consecutive on-the-road win in a 1-0 overtime victory.
“It was an exciting game and one that I’m really happy we got the win because we put a lot into it,” Hefner said.
With the road win on Sunday, the Flashes sit at No. 6 on the board, which allows them to participate in the MAC Tournament.
“This is when you want all the stuff to start coming together,” Hefner said. “So, exciting times hopefully ahead for us.”
Heading into Sunday’s game, the team was concerned about playing a tight defense, but utilized the momentum gained from the game on Sunday. The Flashes remained in the attack for the majority of the game, as the team recorded 32 shots, opposed to the Chippewas’ 10.
“We struggled on Friday, so it was a huge focus for us going into Sunday,” Hefner said. “One of our big game points was being low and styling low and winning the rebounds.”
Regardless of the Flashes’ offensive effort, Central Michigan’s defense had the team on lockdown, notching 16 saves throughout the game. The game went into overtime as both teams remained scoreless.
“It was just an incredible game from start to finish for both teams,” Hefner said. “They [Central Michigan] stopped so many of our opportunities that were actually quality opportunities.”
Junior forward Maybritt Duwel found the opportunity to score after a ball had bounced off a Central Michigan defender. Duwel bunted the ball into the net, breaking the stalemate and winning the game for the Flashes.
“I think it’s a little bit of luck in terms of the ball coming up right in front of the cage, but then a whole lot of skill and anticipation of her being ready for it,” Hefner said.
Between the pipes, goalkeeper Allison Wood recorded her third shutout of the season by notching five saves throughout the game.
Looking ahead
With only two regular season games left, the team is currently in the top six to play in the MAC Tournament. Yet, Hefner believes the team should take the playoff berth one game at a time.
“While that’s exciting, there’s still a lot that needs to happen,” she said. “We want to go and not let it fall to chance or fall to what
other people are doing. We want to go and make sure we can take care of the next two games in order to really secure [the berth].”
On Sunday, the Flashes continue regular season play against MAC opponent James Madison University for the team’s senior night. Hefner believes the team will have extra motivation due to the theme of the game.
JMU is currently ranked at No. 4 in the MAC with a record of 4-3 in conference play and is coming out of a dominant 5-0 victory against Bellarmine University.
Lexie Blatnik is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected]