The Kent State field hockey team failed to knock off either of the two elite teams it faced this weekend, but it is not returning to Kent with its heads hung low.

Despite losing 5-1 to No. 12 Iowa Friday and 6-0 to No. 3 Duke Saturday, Kent State coach Kathleen Schanne said her team will not dwell on its performances.

The Flashes (0-4) did some things during their first road trip of the season Schanne was happy with.

“I was really proud of the girls,” Schanne said. “We came out with a game plan and we stuck to it the whole game. My game plan is one of frustration. We want to frustrate and restrict the opposing team from what they want to do.”

Kent State started the weekend by playing Iowa (1-3) tough in the first half. After Kent State surrendered an early goal to Iowa midfielder Tricia Dean, Kent State senior forward Kate Perry scored her second goal of the year to tie the score up at one going into half time.

“We came out in the first half, tied it up and frustrated them,” Schanne said.

Perry has already matched her goal output from last season. Schanne expects this kind of production from Perry to continue throughout the season.

“I expect many more goals out of her,” Schanne said. “She is a fighter who works hard every day in practice.”

The Flashes failed to keep their momentum going in the second half. Iowa forward Lindsey Duffy opened up a second half barrage with her first of two goals, while forward Caitlin McCurdy added one goal and two assists. Iowa would go on to score one more goal to give the Hawkeyes a 5-1 victory.

Kent State senior goalie Linz Markwart recorded 14 saves by game’s end.

Less than 24 hours after playing Iowa, Kent State played last season’s national championship runner-up Duke (3-0). Schanne said the Flashes came out with a new strategy designed to help their offense against the Blue Devils.

“We came out with a special game plan and got a lot more breakaways and chances,” she said.

However, the new game plan was not enough to topple the Blue Devils. Duke came out of the gate firing in the first half with goals by midfielder Marian Dickinson, forward Amie Survilla and midfielder Amy Stopford. Dickinson also had two assists in the half. Duke had a 3-0 lead at the end of the half and never looked back.

The second half saw Duke add three more goals, one apiece by forward Cara-Lynn Lopresti, midfielder Ashley Pultorak and Dickinson. Dickinson also collected her third assist of the game. The game ended in a 6-0 victory for Duke.

Senior forward Elizabeth Lahey who had two shots on goal and freshman midfielder/forward Allison Kittelberger led Kent State. Kittelberger drew tremendous praise from Schanne.

“Allison Kittelberger played a really great game today,” Schanne said. “She came out and marked one of their best forwards.”

While the new game plan did not manage to put any goals on the board, it did result in more chances. Kent State got seven shots off against Duke as opposed to only two against Iowa. Now it’s only a matter of converting on their opportunities.

The Flashes travel to take on Michigan at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Contact field hockey reporter Tyler McIntosh at [email protected].