Women's Soccer Preview - Wagon Wheel Challenge, Senior Day This Weekend

It's crunch time for the Kent State soccer team, as the Golden Flashes host a pair of home games this weekend at Zoeller Field in the penultimate week of regular season action in Mid-American Conference play.

With just three regular season games remaining, Kent State will be playing for critical points to move up the MAC standings. The Golden Flashes are still in the hunt for a top-four finish in the MAC, which would secure Kent State a first round home game on Sunday, Oct. 30 in the quarterfinals of the 2011 MAC Tournament.

This week, Kent State will host Akron and Ohio, two teams that sandwich the Golden Flashes in the standings as all three are in a tight battle for the MAC-East regular season crown. Kent State will take on Akron Friday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. before hosting Ohio Sunday, Oct. 23 for a 1 p.m. match.

Kent State's match with Akron is also a contest for points in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge; the school that accumulates the most points during the athletic season will win the challenge. One point will be on the line in Friday's matchup.

Both contests will feature live stats through kentstatesports.com.

Scouting the Golden Flashes

• With their 2-0 road win at Ball State Oct. 16, Kent State (10-6-0, 4-4-0 MAC) captured their first 10-win season since 2006 and sixth in the program's 15-year history. The team also posted their sixth shutout of the season, which is tied for fourth-most in program records.

• The Golden Flashes are coming off a key 2-0 win at Ball State Oct. 16. In the contest, Megan Repas (Avon, Ohio) scored both goals for Kent State while goalkeeper Kelly Sherwood (Strongsville, Ohio) made a penalty kick save to preserve the shutout.

• For the first time in the program's 15-year history, five Kent State players are in double figures in scoring in a single season. See the graph to the left for Kent State's statistical leaders offensively.

• This season, the Golden Flashes are 7-1-0 in games decided by one goal.

Scouting the Opponents

• Akron (6-6-2, 3-3-2) is coming off a 3-0 setback at home to Miami Oct. 16. Over the past five games, Akron is 1-3-1, with the lone win coming against Bowling Green Oct. 14. The Zips have been a staunch defending team this season, with seven shutouts through 14 games. Jeny Wolbert owns a 1.02 goals-against average this season.

All-Time Series: Kent State is 7-3-0 all-time against Akron, but two of those losses have been in the last two meetings. Kent State is 4-1-0 against the Zips at home.

• Ohio (7-8-1, 4-3-1 MAC) will take on Buffalo on the road on Friday before facing the Golden Flashes Sunday. The Bobcats are led offensively by Toye Famodu, who has a team-best five goals to go with two assists for 12 points.

All-Time Series: Kent State trails in the all-time series with Ohio, 5-11-1, but is 2-1-0 in the last three meetings. Four of the series victories for Kent State have been at home.

Next Up

The Golden Flashes conclude regular season action Thursday, Oct. 27 at Buffalo for a 3 p.m. contest. Should Kent State be in position to advance to the 2011 MAC Tournament, the Golden Flashes will be in quarterfinal action Sunday, Oct. 30. The top seed after quarterfinal play will host the remainder of the tournament Nov. 4 & 6.