Soccer Opens MAC Schedule Against Ball State, Miami
9/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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KENT, Ohio The Kent State University soccer team opens the 2005 Mid-American Conference slate this weekend when it hosts Ball State University and Miami University at the KSU Soccer Field. The Golden Flashes kick off the weekend, Friday, Sept. 23, against the Cardinals at 4 p.m. Kent State then plays the RedHawks, Sunday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m.
Head Coach: Rob Marinaro (Clemson 92)
Record at Kent State: 38-34-11 (.524)/fifth year
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST THE COMPETITION: The Golden Flashes own a 3-2-1 mark all-time against Ball State and in the last three years the teams have each won one game and played to a tie. Last years meeting in Muncie ended in a 1-1 tie.
Miami holds the lead in the all-time series with Kent State 5-2-1. The Flashes won the first two contests in the series and since Miami has won five of six meetings. The RedHawks claimed last years meeting 3-1 in Oxford.
LAST TIME OUT: The Golden Flashes snapped a three-game winless streak with a 3-0 victory against Youngstown State Sept. 16. After playing a scoreless first half, Kent State scored three goals in 18 minutes, beginning with an unassisted tally by senior Ashley Bohinc. Senior Jen Frey made it 2-0 off an assist from Danie Irwin and redshirt freshman Catharine Marosszeky closed out the scoring with her first career goal. Junior Alicia Fernandez made two saves and combined with Misty Kulcsar on the shutout.
Against Wright State, though, Kent State let one get away. Leading 3-2 inside a minute to play, the Golden Flashes allowed the Raiders to tie the game with 44 seconds remaining, then Wright State scored five minutes into overtime for the 4-3 victory. Marosszeky and Frey each scored for the second straight game, while sophomore Kimberly Dimitroff scored what appeared to be a game-winning goal in the 87th minute.
MAROSSZEKY SCORES FIRST CAREER GOALS: Redshirt freshman midfielder Catharine Marosszeky scored the first two goals of her career last weekend. Marosszeky, who suffered a knee injury in the first game last season and missed the rest of the season, picked up her first career tally against Youngstown State Sept. 16. She scored for the second straight game, converting a penalty kick against Wright State, Sept. 18. Marosszeky also added an assist against the Raiders.
ALL-TIME IN MAC OPENERS: Since beginning play in 1997, the Golden Flashes are 2-6 all-time in the first Mid-American Conference game of the year, however Kent State has won two straight MAC openers, 1-0 at Akron last season and 1-0 over Marshall in 2003. The Flashes record improves to 5-8 all-time in season-opening MAC weekend of the year.
FOUR GOALS NOT ALLOWED: Kent State allowed four goals in Sundays 4-3 overtime loss to Wright State. It is the most goals allowed in a game by KSU since a 4-0 loss to Central Michigan, Sept. 17, 2004, and just the second time the Golden Flashes have allowed four goals in a game since the end of the 2001 season.
NELSON SOLID PLAY IN GOAL: In her last three games played, freshman keeper Kristen Nelson has totaled 200 minutes of playing time, allowed just two goals for a 0.90 goals-against average and made 17 saves. One of the goals she allowed was on a penalty kick against Wright State. Nelson totaled 12 saves in a 1-1 tie against Oakland, the most by a KSU keeper since Lindsey Mitchell had 15 in a 2-1 loss to Ohio Oct. 15, 1999.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION: Ball State is 7-1 on the season and has scored 23 goals in eight games, while allowing just six. Last weekend, the Cardinals picked up a pair of wins agaist Loyola-Chicago (5-1) and at IUPUI (3-1). On the year, Emily Rein leads the team and the MAC with five goals. Sarah Leibel has added three goals and two assists. Alison Becker has played the majority of the minutes in goal for Ball State, owning a 0.66 goals-against average with three shutouts. Ball State is coached by Ron Rainey, who is 82-63-19 in his ninth year.
Miami is 2-3 on the year, splitting a trip to New England with a 3-0 win against Northeastern and a 1-0 loss at Harvard. The RedHawks have scored four goals in five games, with three coming in the win over Northwestern. Lindy Slinger has totaled two goals, while Kathleen Vista has a goal and an assist. Miamis season-opening schedule has included games at Kentucky and Louisville and a home game against Michigan. The RedHawks are coached by Bobby Kramig, who is 106-66-11 in his 10th year.
A LONG TIME COMING: Senior Ashley Bohinc scored the teams first goal against Cleveland State Aug. 28, which was her first goal since Sept. 19, 2003, when she scored in a 3-1 win against Toledo. Against the Vikings, Bohinc led the team with five shots. She also added a goal against Youngstown State, giving her two on the year.
STATISTICAL RANKINGS: Sophomore Kimberly Dimitroff and is tied for fourth in the conference in goals (3) and 10th in the league in points (6). Freshman keeper Kristen Nelson is fourth in the MAC in goals-against average (1.07) and tied for second in saves percentage (.833). As a team, KSU is fourth in the league in scoring (30), tied for third in goals (12) and sixth in goals-against average (1.57).
HEAD COACH ROB MARINARO: Now in his ninth year with the Kent State soccer program, Rob Marinaro (Clemson 92) is in his fifth season as head coach with a 38-34-11 career record. Marinaro was an assistant coach in his first four years at Kent State, and has been with the Golden Flashes since the programs inception in 1997. A 1992 graduate of Clemson University, Marinaro was a four-year letterwinner with the Tigers and played on the 1987 national championship team. He also played five seasons in the National Professional Soccer League and one year in the American Professional Soccer League.
DONT LET IT BE THE ONE AND ONLY: Sophomore Brittany Fracasso scored KSUs lone goal in the loss to Ohio State Aug. 26. It is the second straight year she has scored in the season opener, however last season, it was the only goal Fracasso scored the entire year.
KENT STATE PICKED TO WIN MAC: The Golden Flashes were picked to repeat again as Mid-American Conference champion according to the 2005 MAC womens soccer preseason poll, voted on by the head coaches and released by the conference office. The Flashes also were selected to take the MAC Tournament title.
Kent State is a two-time defending MAC regular season champion, having shared the title in each of the last two years. In 2003, Kent State shared the crown with Eastern Michigan, while last year Kent State jumped from fourth to first in the seasons final weekend to share the championship with Ohio.
Led by head coach and two-time MAC Coach of the Year Rob Marinaro, Kent State 11-4-5 (7-2-3 MAC) a year ago was the MACs most prolific offense a year ago, averaging 1.85 goals per game, totaling 37 in 20 games.
WHOS BACK: Kent State returns 10 starters and 14 letterwinners from last seasons MAC regular season champions. An experienced group of six seniors will lead, while a talented group of juniors and sophomores will make a greater impact. Just five new faces dot the Kent State roster this season.
MOVEMENT ON CAREER RECORDS LIST: Junior keeper Alicia Fernandez is third all-time at Kent State in goals-against average (1.17), victories (19) and shutouts (8). Fernandez is three wins and two shutouts behind all-time leader Lindsey Mitchell. Sophomore forward Kimberly Dimitroff, is in second place all-time in goals with 19. She is 10 behind all-time leader Lauren Caminati (2000-03). Senior midfielder Jen Frey is tied for third place in career assists with 16. She moved into a tie for third with Cassi Johnson (1998-2002), and Frey is two behind second place Caminati and 11 in back of career leader Nicki Downey (1997-2000).
SUCCESS ON THE HOME PITCH: The Golden Flashes are 16-6-2 at the KSU Soccer Field the last three years, going 7-2-1 last season. Kent State has won 22 of its last 33 matches on the friendly pitch. In 2002, the Golden Flashes posted a 6-2-1 record at the KSU Soccer Field, picking up each of their wins on the home turf. The Flashes have outscored their opposition 70-38 in the last 33 games at the KSU Soccer Field.
COMING UP NEXT: The Golden Flashes take to the road for MAC contests at Central Michigan (Sept. 30) and at Eastern Michigan (Oct. 2).
