Kent State University
(10-5, 6-0MAC)
Ohio University
(7-8, 3-2MAC)
6-0! Field Hockey Completes Perfect MAC Season in Double OT Battle
10/21/2016 7:20:00β―PM | Field Hockey
ATHENS, Ohio β Undefeated. Five straight. Eight in the past 11 years.Β Kent State (10-6, 6-0) achieved them all as it clinched an outright Mid-American Conference regular season championship in a rain-drenched, 2-1 double-overtime victory at Ohio on Friday.
The Golden Flashes go unbeatable in conference play for the first time since 2000 when the team reached a perfect 10-0 MAC mark.Β It is the fifth consecutive regular season title for Kent State and also the fifth championship in a row for the current team (2014 regular season, 2014 tournament, 2015 regular season, 2015 tournament, 2016 regular season).
Under Head Coach Kathleen Wiler's 11 years of leadership, the team has now won eight MAC regular season titles.Β Take out her inaugural year and the two seasons Kent State didn't end on top they finished narrowly behind in second.
"It's great to win a regular season championship," said Wiler.Β "The team has been working very hard and achieving goals along the way, but ultimately we need to finish strong these next two non-conference games and be ready to play humble and confidently heading into the tournament."
Notched at one after seventy minutes of regulation, both teams had opportunities to end the match in the first overtime period.Β The Bobcats had a close call with a shot going off the right post.Β Shortly after, the Flashes had six penalty corners in a row as time expired but could not find the back of the net despite some great shots and rebounding attempts.
It didn't take long for intense action to start up in the second overtime period.Β Right away Kent State earned yet another corner.Β Two shots were saved before another corner was earned.Β This time, after the initial shot bounced off the goalkeeper's pads, Madison Thompson found the ball and flicked it up into the cage for the game-winner.
Kent State's first goal also came on a corner, as Ines Delpech rifled a straight shot in less than four minutes into the match.Β Silvia Figa Malgosa and Jessica Nesbitt both had assists on the play.
Ohio had the game-tying goal at the 22:35 mark as they sneaked a shot in from close range.
The Golden Flashes dominated the game statistically as they outshot the Bobcats 21-5 and finished with 16 corners to the Bobcats' three.Β Ohio was only able to get three shots on goal.
Kent State will have a quick turnaround as they host Lock Haven (9-5) on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Team Stats
DELPECH, Ines (5)
Assisted By: FIGA MALGOSA, Silvia , NESBITT, Jessica
Penalty corner
3:51
MILTON, Amelia (2)
Goal from in front
22:35
THOMPSON, Madison (3)
shot off rebound from penalty corner
88:27
