Flashes Aim for Season Sweeps of Miami and Ball State
10/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
KENT, OHIO Tied for first place in the Mid-American Conference at 4-1, Kent State will begin the second half of its league schedule this weekend at Murphy-Mellis Field. The Golden Flashes will set their sights on season sweeps of Miami (Oct. 13) and Ball State (Oct. 14) to remain on the inside track for a MAC Tournament first-round bye.
• A pair of victories this weekend would give the Flashes a 6-1 start in MAC play for the first time since 2000.
• Opponents are averaging less than one goal per game (0.87) in KSU's nine victories this season.
• Miami recently tied a school record by unleashing nine goals on Missouri State in Sunday's home victory (9-1). Meghan McMurtry, Taylor Florence and Maggie Marcum each scored a pair of goals for the RedHawks, while Elizabeth Gilroy piled up four assists.
• Ball State's three victories have come against No. 20 Villanova, Ohio State and most recently a 3-0 shutout of Missouri State this past Saturday.
• Cardinal forward Brooke MacGillivary scored all three goals against the Bears Saturday, upping team-leading toal to eight, (second in the MAC) and was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.
• The RedHawks lead the league and rank 17th in the nation in goals scored average (2.83). MU also ranks 14th in the country in penalty corners with 99.
• This weekend's games conclude a five-game homestand for the Golden Flashes (Oct. 6-14). Since 1997, KSU is 60-21 in front of its home crowd including victories over Ohio State and Ohio this season.
• Taylor Florence, Alyssa Nye and Danielle Gaynor are all tied for MIami's team lead of 12 points scored. Florence Nye and Gaynor each have four goals and four assists.
• Since the beginning of the 2006 season, KSU is 11-1 when scoring three or more times in a contest and 0-13 when allowing three or more goals in a game.
• On Sept. 22 in Oxford, Kent State withstood 14 RedHawk penalty corners in the second half and held on for a 3-1 road victory.
• The next day, the Golden Flashes topped Ball State 3-2 with scores from three different players, including the first collegiate goal for freshman Megan Scraper.
• Last season in Kent, the Golden Flashes allowed a season-high seven goals to Miami, including three from Alyssa Nye.
• The Flashes scored a pair of goals on corner plays last season in a 2-1 victory over Ball State at Murphy-Mellis Field.
• Entering the week, Kent State's .692 winning percentage ranked 15th in the nation.
• The Golden Flashes are 5-0 in true road games this season and 2-2 at Murphy-Mellis Field.
PLAYER NOTES
• Charlotte Muller was named MAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Oct. 4. The award is presented to one MAC female student-athlete with a cume GPA of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week of competition, which for Muller included goals scored in KSU wins over Missouri State and Saint Louis.
• Muller recently tallied her fifth goal of the season Tuesday vs. Michigan. The two-time All-MAC First Team member has racked up 12 goals and eight assists in the last two seasons. She blasted in a second-half goal in KSU's win against the Cardinals last season in Kent.
• Sophomore midfielder Allison Kittelberger scored the game's only goal in KSU's 1-0 win over No. 15 Ohio on Sunday. Her first goal of the season came at Ball State. Kittelberger's only goal in 2006 was against the RedHawks at Murphy-Mellis Field.
• Senior goalkeeper Kara Copeland earned her third shutout of the season Sunday vs. Ohio. Copeland was named MAC co-Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 25 following her victories over Miami and Ball State. She has played every minute in goal for the Flashes this season and has allowed only eight goals in KSU's nine victories. On Sept. 10, Copeland was named Kent State Athlete of the Week after making nine saves in a shutout of Ohio State. She currently ranks second in the MAC with a 1.68 goals against average.
• Rachel Miller scored a pair of goals in KSU's win at Miami this season and recorded an assist at Ball State. She and ranks second in the MAC in points (21) and assists (7). Miller was named Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4 after helping KSU finish 2-0 at the Temple Invitational.
• Anna McComb recently scored goals in back-to-back games vs. Saint Louis and Central Michigan. The senior midfielder has a career-high seven points (3g, 1a) on the season.
• Sophomore forward Laurie Wilkins has scored goals in two of her three career games vs. Miami.
• Four opponents on Kent State's 2007 schedule were ranked in the top 20 in the most recent National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll released on Oct. 9. The Golden Flashes have received votes in all but one one poll this season, while two other opponents received votes this week.
5. Michigan (10-4) 683
7. Michigan State (11-4) 582
15. Ohio (10-4) 274
16. American (10-3) 243
Opponents Receiving Votes (Pts.): Delaware (52), Ohio State (9), Kent State (8).
• Four teams are separated by a game and a half at the top of the Mid-American Conference standings. Kent State and Ohio sit in a first place tie, but Miami (3-2) takes on both conference leaders this weekend. Ohio will also face Ball State, while Central Michigan takes on Missouir State this weekend.
| Complete Notes in PDF |
