Kent State In The Driver's Seat After 8-1 Senior Day Win Over Central Michigan
10/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
KSU can clinch the top seed in the MAC Tournament with a win at Missouri State next Sunday
KENT, Ohio — The Kent State field hockey team is now in the driver's seat to earn the top seed in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament and win a third straight regular season title. Following an impressive offensive performance in an 8-1 Senior Day win over Central Michigan, the Golden Flashes can clinch both with a win at Missouri State next Sunday (Oct. 31).
"At this point of the season every game is just as important as the next and I was very please with the two strong team performance we had this weekend," said Kent State Head Coach Kathleen (Schanne) Wiler.
A well balanced offense in which six different players scored helped lead Kent State (12-6; 7-2 MAC) to its fifth straight win. The Golden Flashes all-time leading goal scorer, Debbie Bell (Hamilton, New Zealand / Waikato) paced the attack with her second hat trick of the season while five other players scored one goal each. Bell a junior, has scored six goals in the last three games and leads the league with 20 goals this season. She now has school-record 70 in her career.
Much like the Golden Flashes win on Friday at Ohio, Bell gave the Golden Flashes an early lift scoring on a penalty corner. Junior Amy Wimsatt (Louisville, Ky./Mercy Academy) and senior Nicole Leach (San Diego, Calif./Mira Mesa) assisted on the goal which came just six minutes into the game. The offensive attack continued for Kent State in the 10th minute when freshman Rebecca Lee (Bathurst, Australia/The Scots School) sent home her ninth goal of the season off a rebound in front of the cage. Lee leads all MAC freshmen in goals scored this season. Less than two minutes later Bell extended the margin to 3-0 in favor of the Golden Flashes when she scored from the center of the circle.
Central Michigan (4-12; 2-6 MAC) used a breakaway by Emily Girasole to get on the board in the 22 minute. Girasole's shot attempted was knocked away but Pam Seufert was then to put in the rebound. Kent State quickly responded on the other end by taking advantage of a penalty corner in the 24th minute. Sitting on the right post, junior Carla Johl (Hamilton, New Zealand / Waikato) deflected in a pass from Miller as the Golden Flashes took a 4-1 lead into halftime.
Bell racked up her third goal of the game less than a minute into the second half when she tapped in a well placed cross pass from Leach. Leach scored a goal herself later in the game to cap off a weekend in which she produced eight points on two goals and four assists. Wimsatt, who assisted on the first score of the game, added her own goal later in the second half. Posting her third goal of the year Wimsatt ducked into the left post on a penalty corner and scored after receiving a tight pass from Johl.
Finally Miller completed the scoring for Kent State when she recorded her ninth score of the season on a rebound shot from eight-yards out that went between the goalie's legs. The highest power offense in the MAC lived up to its billing as the Golden Flashes held a 19-5 edge in shots taken and a 9-3 advantage in penalty corners.
One of six seniors honored before the game, Kent State goalie Caroline Suitch (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) made two save while posting her 40th career win. The 40 career wins moves Suitch into a tie for fifth place all-time in the school record books. Along with Suitch, Miller and Leach seniors Katie George (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara), Bryn Stevens (Hummelstown, Pa. / Lower Dauphin) and redshirt junior captain Stephanie Arbeleaz (San Diego, Calif./Mira Mesa) were all recognized before the contest.
Kent State has one regular season game remaining before the MAC Tournament. The team will travel to Missouri State on Oct. 31. The MAC Tournament is scheduled to take place Nov. 4-6 at Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant.
