Field Hockey Travels for Exhibition on Saturday
8/22/2014 9:14:00 AM | Field Hockey
The Golden Flashes get their first taste of competition for the 2014 season this Saturday when they travel to Michigan State for an exhibition.
Kent State will play two 50-minute matches, one against the host Spartans and another against Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan.
The Golden Flashes last faced Michigan State in a regular season home game in 2012, losing 2-4. Last season they took down the Chippewas 3-2 in an overtime match at Murphy-Mellis Field before falling to Central Michigan 3-1 in the first round of the 2013 MAC Tournament. Kent State will face both opponents during the regular season this year.
Kent State returns a large core of the 2013 team that went 4-1 in conference play to win the MAC regular season title. Six seniors return for their final season including 2013 point, goal, assist and shot leader Julia Hofmann, who also earned All-Region First Team and MAC First-Team honors a year ago. Senior Hannah Faulkner and sophomore Madison Thompson return to continue on their previous success. Missy Ramsey, Abbie Carrico, Shannon Martin, Caroline Corthouts and Krysti Lober also will help to lead the Kent State attack.
On defense, the team will be anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Andrea Rinehart, who shined as a freshman in net after taking over the starting job halfway through the 2013 season. Susanne Felder, Alayna Harris, Sami Surdy and Alexis Madeira will continue to hold down the backfield this year. The team will have the help of eight newcomers including four international players.
The regular season will begin at home on Saturday, August 30 against James Madison at 12:00pm. The Golden Flashes will begin conference play on the road at Missouri State on October 3, as they look to make postseason play. Kent State hosts the 2014 MAC Tournament November 7-8 at Murphy-Mellis Field.
