The Kent State field hockey team (5-8, 3-1) had a big weekend, defeating MAC rival Miami University (9-7, 3-1) Friday and American University (9-5, 4-1) Sunday.

“This win was very important in order to keep our goals alive of a MAC regular-season championship,” said coach Kathleen Wiler. “We had a mission to accomplish… and we did so.”

Junior Madison Thompson scored the lone goal Friday, 17 minutes into the game after junior Krysti Lober centered a pass for Thompson to put it past the Miami goalkeeper.

“That’s exactly the play we work in practice,” Thompson said. “I was holding that area, holding that goal scoring zone. It was important for me to just be there. They did all the work. I was just there to put it away.”

Junior goalkeeper Andrea Rinehart earned her second shutout of the season to put the Flashes past the RedHawks 1-0.

“(We came in) knowing that Miami hadn’t had a loss yet and we wanted to be that loss,” Rinehart said.  “We played with intensity and urgency and came out with a win.”

Following Friday’s 1-0 win over Miami, the Flashes traveled to Washington, D.C. to take on American University.

After allowing an American goal in the first half, the Flashes responded with a late goal by Thompson to send the game into overtime.

It wasn’t until the second overtime when redshirt sophomore Alison Harmatz controlled her own rebound and put it past the American goalkeeper, that the Flashes were able to secure a 2-1 win.

“The next three weeks for us are crucial,” Wiler said.  “October is a huge month and we want to be playing our best hockey.”

The Flashes return to Murphy-Mellis field Friday to take on Ohio University at 1 p.m.

Zac Sommer is a sports reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].