Kent State University
Northwestern University
Soccer Set for First Round Match with No. 21 Northwestern
11/11/2016 12:48:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill.- Kent State soccer makes its NCAA Tournament debut Saturday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. CST/4 p.m. EST, as they take on No. 21 Northwestern from Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium in Evanston, Ill.
The Golden Flashes (15-2-2, 8-1-2 MAC) clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament following their 1-0 victory over Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship this past Sunday. Junior Kristen Brots netted the game-winner in the 86th minute to give Kent State its first MAC Tournament Championship in program history.Â
Goalie Ashleah McDonald came up with six saves as she earned her seventh shutout of the season.Â
RANKING THE GOLDEN FLASHES
• Kent State's 15 wins this season is a program record and goes along with their .842 winning percentage that is eighth in the nation and on pace to set a program record.
• The Golden Flashes have tallied the third-most points in a season so far this year with 111, coming on 38 goals and 35 assists. The Flashes have maintained their average of 2.00 goals scored per game, while only surrendering 0.74 goals per game.
• With the win over Northern Illinois, Kent State soccer's 2016 senior class of Jenna Hellstrom, Abigail LaVigna, Abbie Lawson, Brittany Maisano and Morgan Williams are the winningest class in program history with a total of 48 wins.
• Jenna Hellstrom ranks seventh in the nation in points per game (2.11) and 13th in goals per game (0.78).
• Keeper Ashleah McDonald now owns the program single-season record for wins with 14 and has a goals against average of 0.76 this season which is on pace for the second-best mark in program history.
THE MATCHUP
• Saturday's match will mark the first ever meeting between Kent State and Northwestern.
• The Wildcats (14-2-4, 7-1-3 Big Ten) are set to host there first ever NCAA Tournament game after clinching a share of the Big Ten regular season title. Northwestern made it to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals where they fell to Rutgers 1-0.
• Northwestern leads the nation with 15 shutouts this season and has allowed just six goals all season.Â
• The Wildcat's keeper Lauren Clem owns a 0.28 goals against average and garnered Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
• Northwestern's leading goal-scorer is sophomore Brenna Lovera who has registered six goals in 10 games played this season.
UP NEXT
With a win over Northwestern Saturday, the Golden Flashes would advance into the round of 32 where they would await the winner of Notre Dame and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Â
