Soccer Weekend Preview: Kent State Hosts NIU, Toledo for Homecoming Weekend
10/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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Winners of their last four games, the Kent State soccer team (10-3-2; 5-2-1) hopes to continue their momentum with a three-game homestand to end the regular season. This weekend, the Golden Flashes will host Northern Illinois Friday, Oct. 19 for a 4 p.m. matchup before concluding the weekend's activities Sunday, Oct. 21 against Toledo at Zoeller Field for a 1 p.m. tilt.
Admission is free for Kent State soccer. For those that can't make the game, both home contests will feature live stats available through kentstatesports.com. Links will be active at gametime.
Kent State Athletics is abuzz for the first annual Varsity "K" FLASHBACK All Sport Reunion Weekend. A myriad of events are on tap for former Kent State student-athletes looking to get back in touch with former teammates and coaches as well as the current programs. For more information, visit supportgoldenflashes.com.
Kick CF!
Throughout the 2012 fall season, the Kent State soccer team is raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to not only raise awareness about the life-threatening disease, but to help a member of the Golden Flashes soccer family. Blake Smith, nephew of former Kent State soccer player Jenni Stapleton, was diagnosed with CF at the age of six and has greatly benefited from the research and advancements from the CF Foundation.
All donations the Kent State soccer team raises will go directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. To help the Golden Flashes help Kick CF, visit the team's fundraising website here.
Scouting the Golden Flashes
• For the first time since 2007, Kent State posted back-to-back road shutouts in MAC play with wins at Western Michigan (1-0, OT) and Eastern Michigan (3-0) last weekend. The victory against Western Michigan halted a five-game winless streak to the Broncos, while the win at Eastern Michigan was the second consecutive road win for Kent State in the series.
• Kent State’s defense has posted a MAC-best five shutouts in eight MAC games.
• Offensively, the Golden Flashes are well represented among national leaders. Junior Jaclyn Dutton and sophomore Stephanie Haugh are in the top 10 nationally for goals and assists, respectively. As a team, Kent State is second in the MAC and in the top 50 in the nation in scoring offense.
Click here for Kent State's 2012 record book.
Scouting the Opponents
• Northern Illinois (6-7-2, 2-4-2 MAC) enters Friday’s game on a three-game slide to teams all in the top five in the MAC standings. The Huskies have more than surpassed last season’s 2-15-2 mark under first-year coach John Ross.
All-Time Series: Kent State trails slightly to NIU, 6-7-3, but is 3-0-2 in the last five contests.
• After a challenging non-conference slate, Toledo is 4-3-1 in MAC play after a split weekend against Ball State (W, 2-1) and Miami (L, 0-1). Despite a 6-9-1 overall record, the Rockets are 3-3-1 away from home this season.
All-Time Series: Kent State and Toledo are tied, 8-8-1, all time; however, the Rockets have won five straight.
Next Up
The 2012 regular season concludes for Kent State soccer Thursday, Oct. 25 with a 3 p.m. home contest against Ohio. From there, the 2012 Mid-American Conference Women's Soccer Championship will begin Sunday, Oct. 28 with the top four seeds hosting the teams seeded 5-8 in the quarterfinal round. Kent State is currently in the hunt to host a quarterfinal game, as the team has 16 points and is third in the MAC standings.
