The Kent State field hockey team blew a 2-0-halftime lead in its season opener and fell in overtime to Bucknell, 3-2, at Ohio State’s North Turf Field in Columbus.

Kent State coach Kathleen Schanne called the loss tough.

“I thought we played well,” she said. “We had a few things that let us down when we let them back in there.”

The Flashes struck first when junior forward Natalie Barrett scored 19 minutes into the first half. Barrett would temporarily leave with a minor injury, but she did return.

Freshman Rachel Miller then scored the second goal on a penalty corner.

The Flashes defended the corners the entire game, stopping all six Bison attacks.

“I thought we did really well in the corners defensively,” Schanne said. “We could have been a little sharper offensively, but I thought they looked pretty good for this point of the season.”

The Bisons came back in the second half. After a goal with just over 22 minutes left, Bucknell’s Megan Krebs tied the game with 14 minutes to play.

The Flashes had a few chances to win the game in the final minutes but couldn’t get the ball in the net.

“They were real close to going in,” senior captain Charlotte Muller said. “It’s tough, but that is what happens.”

Bucknell’s Kelly Hoffman scored the game-winning goal four minutes into overtime to give Bucknell the victory.

“It’s rough because we dominated the game,” senior goalkeeper Kara Copeland said. “This isn’t the outcome everybody wanted, but we have another game tomorrow.”

The players said a loss like this can help them find out where they can improve.

“We need to make more passes instead of going for the long balls, but we are getting there,” Muller said.

Contact field hockey reporter Jeff Russ at [email protected].