Field Hockey Celebrates Homecoming Weekend Against Ohio and Missouri State
10/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
KSU looks to extend two-game winning streak starting on Friday at 1:00 pm
KENT, Ohio – Winners of two straight, the Kent State field hockey looks to extend their winning streak on Homecoming Weekend as the program plays host to Mid-American Conference foes Ohio (Friday, 1:00 p.m.) and Missouri State (Sunday, 12:00 p.m.)
For the second straight week Kent State (7-5; 2-1 Mid-American Conference) was the first team list under 'Also Receiving Votes' in the latest Kookaburra / NFHCA Division I National Coaches Top 20 Poll. The Golden Flashes enter the weekend having won have won three of their last four games. The team is coming off its first weekend sweep of the season in which they posted a 2-0 win at Central Michigan and a 2-1 overtime victory at Northwestern.
The Golden Flashes' defense allowed just six shots on goal and 10 penalty corners in the two wins. Kent State has outshot the last five four opponents by a 79-31 margin. Junior Debbie Bell (Hamilton, New Zealand / Waikato) earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks after she recorded her second overtime game winner of the season on Sunday in the win over Northwestern. She also posted her 13th career multi-goal game and moved into third place all-time at KSU with 58 career goals. Against Central Michigan senior goalie Caroline Suitch (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) posted her second shutout of the season and 10th in her career. She now has totaled 35 victories in goal the past three seasons.
This weekend Kent State Intercollegiate Athletics is celebrating a Century of Kent State Women's Athletics. Since 1910, athletics at Kent State University has long been a model of excellence and an integral part of campus life. Specifically, women's athletics over the past 100 years has grown from intramural and recreational activities to the current intercollegiate program that we know today. In addition to traditional homecoming festivities taking place this weekend, all former Golden Flash female athletes have been invited back to campus to commemorate the historic foundation and rich tradition of women's athletics through a series of reunions, receptions and a special luncheon that celebrates the contributions of pre-Title IX athletes and coaches.
Ohio (6-7; 2-1 MAC) enters Friday's game having lost two straight after winning its previous five matches. Taylor Brown leads the team with nine goals while Cathryn Altdoerffer has seven. Along with Kent State, Miami and Central Michigan, Ohio is one of four teams in the MAC with only one loss in conference play. The Golden Flashes lead the all-time series 40-22-2.
Game time is schedule for 1:00 p.m. Live stats for the game are available here.
On Sunday the Golden Flashes are participating in Play 4 the Cure to raise awareness for breast cancer when they host Missouri State (3-8; 0-2 MAC). The Bears are led by Casey Bayliss with six goals and four assists. Kent State has won seven straight in the series and leads the head-to-head match-up by an 18-3-1 margin.
As part of the movement to support breast cancer awareness, the Golden Flashes will don pink warm-ups and other pink accessories. In addition the team will be accepting monetary donations that will go directly to The Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research and awareness. The field hockey team encourages fans to wear pink to the game in support of the Play 4 the Cure program.
Game time is set for a 1:00 p.m. start. Follow the action through live stats by clicking here.
