Miami Spoils Flashes' MAC Opner
9/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Kent, Ohio - Three quick goals to start the second half made the difference in Miami's 7-4 victory over Kent State Friday afternoon (Sept. 22) at Murphy Mellis Field. Each team scored three first half goals, but the RedHawks (4-5, 1-0 MAC) found the back of the cage four times in the second to open Mid-American Conference play on a winning note.
Just one minute into the game, Danielle Perrecone put the RedHawks ahead with a top-shelf shot from the top of the circle. Deb Leighton gave Miami a 2-0 lead at the 19:13 mark.
Two minutes later, senior forward Kate Perry (W.Vancouver, B.C.) scored her MAC-leading sixth goal of the year on a rebound to cut the lead in half. Two minutes after Perry's goal, the Golden Flashes earned a penalty corner. On a set piece with four consecutive passes, Allison Kittelberger (Webster, N.Y./Schroeder) finished off a well-executed corner play for her first collegiate goal. Perry, who inserted the corner, got the ball back and passed out the assist.
Miami responded with a goal of their just two and a half minutes later at the 27:29 mark to take the lead back (3-2). With less than a minute to play in the half Perry found classmate Elizabeth Lahey (Laconia, N.H.), who scored on a breakaway.
With the score tied 3-3 to start the second half, Miami began their offensive charge. The RedHawks scored three goals in the opening 3:30 of the second. Alyssa Nye scored two of the three goals and assisted on the other.
Freshman Laurie Wilkins (Toledo, Ohio/Ottawa Hills) scored her first collegeiate goal with 8:23 to play, but Nye struck again to put the game out of reach.
"We had moments of good attacking play," said Head Coach Kathleen Schanne.
Senior Linz Markwart (Miller Place, N.Y.) and junior Kara Copeland (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) both saw time in goal for the Flashes. Copeland made three saves while Markwart had two.
Miami outshot KSU 19-15 to help it snap a nine-game losing streak in Kent. The RedHawks also doubled the Flashes penalty corners 12-6.
Kent State (2-7, 0-1) will play its second MAC game in as many days Saturday at Murphy Mellis Field. The Flashes host Ball State at 1:00 p.m.
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