Before Kent State’s (1-5) field hockey team can start Mid-American Conference play it must host No. 1 Wake Forest (7-0) and No.16 Michigan State (2-4) this weekend.

Kent State lost to Wake Forest and Michigan State last year by scores of 4-0 and 2-1 respectively, but the team refuses to compare this year’s team to past Kent State teams.

“We are a different team than we were last year,” senior forward Kate Perry said. “It’s a completely different group.”

Perry, who was a MAC player of the week nominee this week, will look to continue her two-game scoring streak this weekend.

One advantage for Kent State will be playing this weekend’s games at Murphy Mellis field. Kent State, who will be playing its second and third games of a five game home stand, know how playing at home can help a team succeed.

“It’s a huge advantage to be at home,” Schanne said. “We practice at Murphy Mellis field every day. We know how the field plays and we have all the comforts of home. Not traveling allows us to stay in our routine. We don’t have to worry about little things like eating out for all of our meals and hopefully we get to play in front of a great crowd.”

Kent State comes into this weekend hoping that its win over Colgate will help them prepare for the Demon Deacons and the Spartans.

Schanne said that part of the team’s preparation for this weekend will include fine tuning what worked during the team’s win over Colgate. In particular, she said she liked how Kent State got off as many shots as possible, limited the amount of penalty corners given up and that her players stuck to their specific assignments the whole game.

The Flashes have a three-tier game plan set up for the Demon Deacons, who advanced to last year’s final four.

“We are finding different ways to press Wake Forest and figuring out how we are going to exploit some of their weaknesses and counter-act some of their strengths,” Schanne said.

She said every team has their weaknesses, but there were three Wake Forest players that worry her.

“Wake Forest has three under-21 national team caliber athletes on their squad that will be tough to stop. One was selected to play in the World Cup.”

The three Wake Forest players coach Scahnne is referring to are, Lauren Crandall, Jamie Whitten and Michelle Kasold. Crandall and Kasold have six and five goals apiece. Whitten leads Wake Forest in assists with four.

However, don’t expect the Flashes to be intimidated by a nationally ranked team, or distinguished players.

“We look at each game as a number,” senior goalie Linz Markwart said. “The team doesn’t pay attention to what our opponents are ranked or not ranked. We always practice hard and we are always prepared. That shouldn’t change for any team. We just want our confidence to keep growing and be able to compete with anybody.”

A win this weekend is not necessary for Schanne to be happy with her club.

“As long as we are improving I consider it a success,” Schanne said. “We need to accomplish the goals we set right before every game and just keep becoming a team. The ultimate goal is preparation for the MAC season. This is the perfect way to do that.”

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