Kent State University
University of Akron
Soccer Hosts Akron in Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge, Travels to Buffalo
10/3/2017 4:30:00โฏPM | Women's Soccer
Match #13
vs. Akron | Thursday, Oct. 5ย | 7ย p.m.
Live Statsย | Watch
Match #14
at Buffaloย | Sunday, Oct. 8ย | 12 p.m.
Live Statsย | Watch
The Kent State soccer team (7-4-1, 3-1 MAC) gears up for its third week of Mid-American Conference action by hosting rival Akron on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. and traveling to Buffalo on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 12 p.m.
The Last Time Out
Playing with only 10 players for the final 80 minutes of its match against Miami, the Flashes were still able to able to come away with a 1-0 win. Freshman Isabelle Mihail scored the game-winning goal in the 55th minute, running down the right side and sending her shot inside the near post. Seniors Karli Paracca and Kristen Brots recorded assists, each their third of the season. The defense played well in front of goalkeeper Ashleah McDonald, as the junior only faced ten shots and made four saves. It was Kent State's first win in Oxford since 2006.
Ball State slid past Kent State, 1-0, last Sunday afternoon in Muncie. The Cardinals needed just one goal in the 34th minute to defeat the Flashes, and was just the second time all year that Kent State was shutout.
Season Notes
Kent State ranks first in the MAC in goals allowed (9), goals against average (0.74) and shutouts (6). The Golden Flashes defense hasn't surrendered a multi-goal game in eight consecutive matches. The last team to score two goals against Kent State, was Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 1.
The Golden Flashes are second in assists (17), and fourth in points (45) and goals (14).
Kent State has won five matches with a 1-0 final score, which is ties the 1998 and 2013 seasons for most in a year.
Freshman Vital Kats leads the squad in goals and is sixth in the MAC with four goals. She is also sixth with 10 points.
Both of freshman Isabelle Mihail's goals have been game winners in 1-0 matches (Sept. 7 vs. Pitt & Sept 29 at Miami).
Junior goalkeeper Ashleah McDonald is second in the MAC in goals against average (0.76) and save percentage (.851). She also ranks third in the conference with four shutouts.
Freshmanย Cameron Shedenhelmย scored two goals against St. Bonaventure, becoming the first Flashes' freshman to score more than one goal in a match sinceย Donavan Capehartย in 2014.ย
Freshmanย Karly Hellstromย tallied two assists against St. Bonaventure and is the first freshman to record a multi-assist match since her sister, All-Americanย Jenna Hellstrom, tallied a program record four assists against Eastern Michigan in 2013.ย Karly Hellstromย leads the team with four assists.
Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge
Thursday's game will be the second matchup in this year'sย Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge. Akron took an early 0.5-0.0 lead with a victory in volleyball. The Golden Flashes soccer team is 6-0 in the challenge. Kent State has won four of the six trophies to date.
Scouting Akron
The Zips (1-9-2, 0-3-1 MAC) were picked to finish fifth in the East Division in the Preseason Coaches' Poll and are still in search of their first conference victory. Akron has not won a match since beating Green Bay, 3-0, in the first week of the season. Last weekend, the Zips tied with Central Michigan (1-1) and fell to Eastern Michigan (2-1).
Ashley Amato leads the team with six points (3g), despite only playing in seven contests. Erica Schrader has tallied three assists to lead the team. In goal, Amani Jiu (1.70 gaa) has started all 12 matches and ranks sixth in the MAC in saves per game (4.50). She was won the conference's first Defensive Player of the Week this season by shutting out Milwaukee and Green Bay. ย Opponents have outscored the Zips 22-9 this season.
Noreen Herlihy is in her third season at Akron and holds a 11-34-8 record. Prior to coaching at Akron, she spent 20 seasons as the head coach at Division II Slippery Rock.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls (4-5-2, 2-1-1 MAC) were selected to finish second behind Kent State in the Preseason Coaches' Poll. Buffalo defeated Eastern Michigan (2-1) last Friday, before tying with Central Michigan (0-0) on Sunday.
Carrissima Cutrona is one of the top scorers in the conference, ranking third in points (13) and tied for fourth in goals (5). She scored the game-winner in the 80th minute to beat Eastern Michigan last weekend. Laura Dougall (1.12 gaa) has logged every minute for the Bulls this season in goal and has collected four shutouts, tied for third in the MAC.
Head coach Shawn Burke is the fourth-year leader of the Bulls, with a 38-23-13 career mark. He was named the 2014 MAC Coach of the Year in his first season, and previously spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Buffalo.
Series History
Kent State owns a commanding 13-3 record against the Zips. The Golden Flashes have won the last six matches, and have not lost a meeting in Kent since 2009. Last season, Kent State won 4-0 behind two-goal performances from Donavan Capehart and Jenna Hellstrom. The Flashes have outscored Akron 12-1 over the last four matches, and have a 6-1 record at home.
The Golden Flashes are 10-9-1 all-time against Buffalo. Kent State was victorious last year, 1-0, on a goal from Jenna Hellstrom. The Bulls have a 5-4-1 advantage in the series at UB Stadium. The last three matches at UB Stadium have each been decided by one goal.
Up Next
Kent State will make its final road swing of the season taking on Northern Illinois on Friday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. and Western Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.
Dix Stadium Information
All Kent State soccer matches are open seating for fans in the three bleacher sections. Access to the Dix Stadium press box and loge is reserved for those with proper credentials.
Parking is available in the main Dix Stadium parking lot in front of the main entrance or by the field house free of charge. Parking on the ring road around Dix Stadium is strictly prohibited. Handicap accessibility is available under cover on the northeast side, by the end zone closest to the field house. ย
Follow the Flashes
All nine Kent State home matches will be video streamed onย kentstatesports.com.
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer onย Twitter,ย Instagramย andย Facebookย for news and in-match updates about the squad.
