Flashes Advance to MAC Championship with 3-1 Comeback Win Over CMU

Friday, November 4

Kent, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

Kent State University

14-2-2 (8-1-2MAC)

Central Michigan University

15-3-3 (6-2-3MAC)

Central Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: Nate Manley

Flashes Advance to MAC Championship with 3-1 Comeback Win Over CMU

11/4/2016 10:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

KENT, Ohio- Three second half goals brought No. 2 seed Kent State soccer back from an early one goal deficit as they went on to defeat No. 3 Central Michigan, 3-1 in the MAC semifinals Friday night from Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes now have 14 wins on the season, a new Kent State record.

The Chippewas got out to an early 1-0 lead following a corner kick taken by Eliza Van de Kerkhove that made its way to the back post where Taylor Potts met it with her head and knocked the ball into the net.

A defensive battle ensued for the remainder of the half as each team was only to register one shot on goal. Kent State's keeper Ashleah McDonald made a great save in the 36th minute, tipping the ball over the crossbar following a Central Michigan free kick by Van de Kerkhove. The score would remain 1-0 as the teams went into halftime.

Kent State came out of the break with a little more pace than the first half which led to a goal in the 50th minute. Donavan Capehart laid the ball off to Jaime Eiben who crossed the ball to the right side of the box to Karli Paracca who chipped the ball towards the back post and into the net for her third goal of the season.

The Golden Flashes were awarded a penalty kick in the 62nd minute following Jenna Hellstrom being taken in the box on a set piece for Kent State. Hellstrom lined up to take the kick and slotted the ball into the lower left corner of the net for her 14th goal of the season.

With a strong defensive effort by Kent State, Hayden Pascoe's goal in the 77th minute just about put the game out of reach for the Chippewas. Kent State was awarded another free kick near midfield, which Paige Culver played into the box where a Central Michigan defender misplayed the ball, giving Pascoe a chance to get a foot on it and knock it into the net. Pascoe now has six goals on the season, four of which have come in the last three games.

Keeper Ashleah McDonald made four second half saves to keep the Chippewas limited to one goal. McDonald earned her 13th win of the season, to tie Angela Snow '98 and Stephanie Senn '12 for the most wins in a season by a Kent State keeper.

The Golden Flashes are now slated to play in the second MAC Tournament Championship match in program history. The championship match is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday from Dix Stadium, as Kent State will take on No. 8 seed Northern Illionis who knocked out Western Michigan earlier in the day 3-2.