KSU Soccer conquers Bowling Green to win first MAC conference game

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Highlights and Interview provided by Jon Jankowski [email protected].

It took an extra five minutes of overtime, but the Kent State soccer team (7-3, 1-1) was able to top Bowling Green (4-7, 1-1) and claim the team’s first win in Mid-American Conference play 1-0.

Sophomore Jaclyn Dutton was the hero Sunday afternoon at Zoeller field as her 95th minute goal was the difference for a big conference win for the Flashes and her first career game winning goal.

“I thought the team worked extremely hard, especially after Friday’s hard fought game,” said Kent State coach Rob Marinaro. “They kept their spirits high and they kept believing in themselves and each other and I think they really came together today and gave a real hard fought effort.”

The play opened up when senior Vanessa Salerno traced down a ball on the far left side of the field and fed the ball to freshman Stephanie Haugh nearby. Haugh then took to the ball to the near post and used precision passing to find Dutton buried in the goal box and netted the game winning score.

For the fourth time this season, the Flashes came out on top 1-0, and Sunday’s game marked the 12th career shutout for senior goalie Kelly Sherwood and fifth this season. Sherwood stopped both shots on goal she faced.

“One to nothing you have got to give a lot of the credit to the defense,” Marinaro said. “To keep a blank sheet is crucial right from goal keeper to the defense to the midfielders and our forwards, it’s a great entire team effort defensively and they have done a wonderful job.”

Bowling Green has predominantly played the Flashes tough and Dutton’s goal is the first goal the team scored on the Falcons in seven games. In the past eight meetings, the Flashes were 0-6-2, but improve after Sunday’s game.

“Your first MAC win is always the most important and getting that one is big for building confidence from that,” Marinaro said. “I think this one was well deserved, but at the end of the day it was an overtime game and we came through in the clutch.”

In total, the Flashes out-shot the Falcons 15-to-13 and held the edge in shots on target 3-to-2. Hanging around the net for most of the day, Dutton led the team with two shots on target with the second being the game winner.

Sunday’s game marked the last home game for the Flashes until Oct. 7. Being road tested is something that coach Marinaro prides his team on as the team is 2-1 on the road.

“Playing at home is special for our team, but they have proven themselves on the road and here and we will look to continue that this upcoming week,” Marinaro said.

The team will head to Eastern Michigan to take on the winless Eagles (0-8-1) that fell to Akron 3-0 this past Sunday.

Contact Matt Lofgren at [email protected].