The Kent State women’s soccer team shut the door on Northern Illinois early, completing a weekend sweep. However, redshirt sophomore Donavan Capehart’s hat trick kept the Huskies from coming back.

The Flashes’ 7-3 win improves their record to 7-3-2 and 3-1 in MAC play. Northern Illinois drops to 2-9 and 1-3 within the conference.

The seven goals Kent State scored, and the three goals it gave up, were both season highs.

For the fifth consecutive game, the Flashes gave up the first goal on a fast break finished by NIU freshman forward Taylor Sarver in the eighteenth minute.

Kent State responded quickly with a goal two minutes later by junior forward Jenna Hellstrom on an assist by sophomore forward Hayden Pascoe.

It was Hellstrom’s team-leading ninth goal of the year.

Pascoe then fired in a goal of her own in the twenty-second minute assisted by sophomore midfielder Kristen Brots.

A free kick by senior defender Madison Helterbran found freshman defender Paige Culver, who spun it into the back of the net in the twenty-eighth minute.

The Flashes finished off the first half with a goal by sophomore forward Karli Paracca, who rebounded a save by NIU sophomore goalie Amy Annala.

The Huskies started off the second half with a goal in the fiftieth minute.

However, the Flashes once again had a timely response with a goal by redshirt sophomore Donavan Capehart 40 seconds later.  

A testy game reached its boiling point in the sixty-second minute when NIU drew a penalty in the box. After the Huskies capitalized to make it 5-3, Helterbran was given a yellow card.

The head official was hearing complaints from both sides: coaches, players and fans. He even responded to some of the fans throughout the game.

Within the next five minutes, the Flashes sealed the win with two more goals by Capehart, giving her seven goals on the season.

Hellstrom was the other Flash to receive a yellow card. It was her fifth of the season, triggering an automatic suspension for the Flashes’ next game.

According to the NCAA Soccer 2014 and 2015 Rules and Interpretations:

“12.11.1 Regular-Season Games. Any player(s) or coach(es) who has received a total of five cautions in one season shall be suspended and shall not participate in the next regularly scheduled game, including postseason games.”

Kent State will play at Ball State (7-2-2, 3-0) on Friday and at Miami of Ohio (6-4, 2-1) on Sunday.

Dan Armelli is a sports reporter for the Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].