Field Hockey host Saint Louis and Villanova in first home matches of the season

Outlook: The Kent State field hockey team is 2-2 so far this year. The Flashes have won both their matches in which they scored five or more goals, while they have lost both matches in which they scored only one goal.

Upcoming game: The Flashes will square off against the Saint Louis Billikens (0-3) at 1 p.m. Friday at Murphy-Mellis Field and end the weekend with a match against the Villanova Wildcats (1-3) on at 12 p.m. Sunday.

Last game Kent State’s last match resulted in a 6-2 loss to No. 6 Syracuse on Sept. 8. Despite striking first with a goal by Karleigh Carlin, the Flashes surrendered the next five goals, including a hat trick by Syracuse’s Lauren Brooks.

Last home game: These upcoming games will be the Flashes’ first home two games of the regular season. Kent State bested the Robert Morris (Pa.) Colonials 9-6 in a scrimmage on Aug. 24.

Last year: The Billikens struggled last season, going 1-19 while posting a 0-7 record in the Atlantic-10 Conference. The Wildcats ended up with a 7-12 record in the 2012 campaign and a 2-3 record in the Big East.

Key players: Rebecca Lee and Julia Hofmann are tied for the team lead in goals with three and points with six. Alexis Madeira and Shannon Martin are tied for second in points with four each.

Player’s view:

Junior midfielder Abbie Carrico, on what her team needs to do to come away with two wins at home:

“I think we just need to play in our structure this weekend. That’s what we’ve been working on in practice this week, and just keeping a high communication. Also to keep bringing out that tempo. We left Syracuse kind of frightened there for a while in the first half. I think if we can bring that tempo out to [Saint Louis and Villinova], it can be very frightening for them.”

Contact Chris Ginley at [email protected].