Flashes Complete Weekend Sweep at Temple Invitational
9/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Philadelphia, Pa. - Three second-half goals vaulted Kent State (2-2) past Penn Sunday afternoon (Sept. 2) to give the Golden Flashes back-to-back victories for the first time since the 2005 season. The Quakers scored their only goal in the first half, while the Flashes countered with three unanswered scores.
Penn's goal came on its only penalty corner of the first half, finished off by Jamie Callahan.
"The first half was back-and-forth throughout," Head Coach Kathleen Schanne said. "But we made some lineup adjustments to start the second half, which gave us a spark."
Sophomore Jess Coil, who had seen limited action this season due to injuries, got the nod at fullback to start the second half. Coil's appearance allowed Charlotte Muller to move up to midfield, where she spent of the 2006 season and moved offensive threat Rachel Miller from midfield to forward.
"We came out of halftime ready to strike," said Schanne. "And we were able to keep the pressure on."
Two minutes into the half, Miller scored her second goal of the season, assisted by Allison Kittelberger. With just over 17 minutes to play, the Flashes went ahead when fellow freshman Nicole Leach found the cage on a pass from Miller. It was the first collegiate goal for Leach.
Junior forward Natalie Barrett put the game away with her third goal of the season. Muller tallied the assist with leass than 10 minutes to play. Barrett has scored six goals in her last six games played.
"We still had a lot of other chances to score in that second half," Schanne added.
The Golden Flashes outshot the Quakers 19-11 and put 14 shots on goal.
Senior goalkeeper Kara Copeland made three saves Sunday and allowed just one goal in two full games played on the weekend.
Sunday was the first time Kent State had faced Penn in school history.
Nationally ranked Ohio State comes to Murphy Mellis Field Tuesday (Sept. 4) for the Golden Flashes' home opener.
"We beat two tough east coast teams on this trip," Schanne said. "And this team is really looking forward to playing at home Tuesday."
