The Kent State field hockey team went into Saturday’s game against the Ball State Cardinals in first place in the Mid-American Conference standings and secured its position with a 5-2 victory in Muncie, Ind.

Five different players scored goals for the Flashes (7-8, 3-0 MAC), which have now won three of their last four matches after being on a five-match losing streak.

Senior Sabrina Binder put the Flashes on the board seven minutes into the match with a goal off of an assist from junior Julia Hofmann. Binder returned the favor later in the first half, assisting on Hofmann’s team-leading eighth goal of the season at the 14-minute mark.

A goal off a deflection by senior Melanie Kahn gave the Flashes a 3-0 lead going into halftime.

The Cardinals broke up the potential shutout when Allie White scored a goal five minutes into the second half. White scored another goal eight minutes later, sneaking a shot past Kent State goalie Andrea Rinehart on the left side of the net.

Out of Ball State’s 10 shots in the game, only two of them were on target. Kent State managed 16 total shots with 12 of the shots being on target.

Both of the Cardinals’ second-half goals were answered by the Flashes. Senior Alyssa McFerren scored a goal off the right side 43 minutes into the match, and junior Missy Ramsey capitalized on a clear shot at the net for her fifth goal of the season.

The Flashes face a pivotal game next weekend, as the team will prepare to host the second-place Miami RedHawks during Senior Day at noon Sunday at Murphy-Mellis Field.

Contact Chris Ginley at [email protected].