Flashes Advance to MAC Semifinals with 2-0 Win Over Eastern Michigan

Sunday, October 30

Kent, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

13-2-2 (8-1-2MAC)

Eastern Michigan University

6-10-4 (4-5-2MAC)

Eastern Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: Andy Drabic

Flashes Advance to MAC Semifinals with 2-0 Win Over Eastern Michigan

10/30/2016 4:33:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

KENT, Ohio- The No. 2 seed Kent State soccer team earned their first MAC Tournament victory since 2012, defeating Eastern Michigan 2-0 Sunday afternoon from inside Dix Stadium. The win improves Kent State's record to 13-2-2 (8-1-2 MAC) as the Golden Flashes will now host their first MAC Tournament semifinal and final in program history following Northern Illinois advancing on penalty kicks over Ball State on Sunday. Eastern Michigan's season comes to end with a record of 6-10-4 (4-5-2 MAC).

The Golden Flashes set the tone early on in the match, controlling possession and being the first to 50-50 balls.

Donavan Capehart nearly got the scoring started in the eighth minute of the game as she received a pass inside the 18-yard box and struck the ball off the crossbar and then nearly got to the rebound but an Eastern defender would clear the ball.

The rest of the first half proved to be a defensive battle as the Golden Flashes were only able to get one shot on goal but held the Eagles to just three shots, none of which were on goal.

Coming out of the break, Kent State ramped up their attack leading many scoring opportunities. The breakthrough goal for Kent State came in 51st minute as Brittany Maisano passed the ball to Jenna Hellstrom at the top of the 18-yard box who then flicked the ball through Capehart who beat one defender and dribbled around the EMU keeper and scored the empty net goal. For Maisano, it was her first assist and point of the season.

The Hellstrom, Maisano assist combination would find success again in the 80th minute as Hellstrom laid the ball off to Maisano who played the ball across the field to a crashing Hayden Pascoe who put an excellent touch on the ball and beat the Eastern keeper to all but seal the match for the Golden Flashes. Pascoe now has three goals in her last two matches.

Two assists for Maisano marks the first time she has recorded multiple assists in a match and brings her career total to six.

For Hellstrom, it's her third multiple assist game and fifth of her career.

The Kent State defense continued their stifling play, not allowing a shot on goal for the second time this season en route to their eighth shutout of the season. Goalie Ashleah McDonald earns her sixth shutout of the season, two of which have now come against Eastern Michigan.

As the highest seed remaining in the MAC Tournament, Kent State will host both semifinal matches on Friday, Nov. 4 and the finals match on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. The Golden Flashes will take on Central Michigan in Friday's second semifinal match slated to begin at 7 p.m. The first semifinal match between Western Michigan and Northern Illinois is set for 4 p.m. from Dix Stadium.