Jessacca Gironda’s uncanny ability to find the back of the net for the Flashes this season cannot be argued.

A business major and lawyer-to-be, Gironda has scored three goals this season en route to the team’s sizzling 3-0 start to the season. In fact, dating back to last season, the sophomore has scored seven goals in as many games.

But for all that she’s accomplished on the soccer field, it could have all been for nothing. Her senior year of high school at Archbishop Hoban, Gironda was being looked at for her skills on the softball field.

“I was looking at some colleges, I started to look into Kent State for their program,” Gironda said. “But I really looked into the school for soccer when softball didn’t work out the way I had hoped.”

Who knows what could have been had Gironda chosen the softball field over the soccer pitch, but all things considered, you would be hard pressed to find a more talented young player for Kent State. In her 21 games, Gironda has scored 12 goals for Flashes and three assists, which makes her the team leader in points with 27.

Scoring the deciding goal in last Friday’s 1-0 victory under the lights at Morehead State, Gironda credits the Flashes’ early successes to the team’s confidence in their abilities.

“I feel we are in the best position we could be confidence-wise, we really consider ourselves 4-and-0 if you include our scrimmage (a 1-0 victory over Valparaiso on Aug. 14) and all of our games,” Gironda said. “I also think it gives us a lot of confidence knowing we turned things around and our team is way different than last year and only good things can come from that.”

Getting ready for the long 2,438 miles to San Francisco (according to Google Maps) for the California Invitational, Gironda knows her and her teammates are ready for Cal (3-1) Friday night because of their hard work in the offseason.

But aside from all the buildup and Gironda’s meaning to the Flashes offense, what has been the most critical part of the team’s success is the defense.

“Our defense doesn’t get a lot of credit really, and they deserve a lot of the credit because it all starts with them,” Gironda said. “They get big stops and they keep us in the game by how well they play defensively and (it) gives the team a lot of confidence.”

Part of that strong defense is senior goalie Kelly Sherwood, who was named this week’s Mid-American Conference Player of the Week. She racked up two shut out victories and a total of five saves.

Contact Matt Lofgren at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @GonzoEdu.