Flashes Sweep Player of the Week Honors
10/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference presented both its Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards to Kent State players on Tuesday (Oct. 7). Freshman forward Debbie Bell (Hamilton, New Zealand/Waikato) earned the offensive award for the second time in three weeks, while sophomore back Kara Rhodenbaugh (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda) claimed her first defensive honor.
The duo helped the Golden Flashes to a pair of conference road victories over the weekend, boosting KSU into a three-way tie for first place atop the MAC standings. The Flashes handed Miami its only conference loss Saturday (Oct. 4) and blanked Ball State 5-0 Sunday (Oct. 5).
Bell scored one of the Flashes' two goals in a 2-1 victory in Oxford. Meanwhile, Rhodenbaugh made a crucial, lunging defensive save on a RedHawk shot that went past the goalkeeper.
The next day, Rhodenbaugh helped secure KSU's third shutout of the season. Bell provided much of the offense with two goals and one assist against the Cardinals.
In her last six games, Bell has scored 10 goals. She currently leads the MAC with 14 goals and 1.17 goals per game, which ranks among the nation's top 10 scorers. The Golden Flashes are 8-0 this season when Bell scores.
Rhodenbaugh has started all 12 games this season, playing a key role in holding KSU opponents to 1.50 goals per game.
The Golden Flashes (8-4, 3-1) resume confernce play Friday (Oct. 10) against the Ohio Bobcats, who carry an identical 3-1 MAC record.
