Kent State University
University of Toledo
First Place Flashes Host Toledo and Bowling Green This Weekend
10/18/2017 12:09:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – The conference-leading Kent State soccer team (11-4-1, 7-1-0 MAC) returns home to face Toledo on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. and Bowling Green on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. The Golden Flashes sit atop the Mid-American Conference with 21 points and are gunning for their second conference championship in as many years.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes extended its shutouts streak to four with 1-0 road wins at Northern Illinois (1-0) and Western Michigan (1-0) last weekend in the final regular season road swing. Senior Donavan Capehart scored the game-winning goal in the 25th minute against the Huskies on an assist from senior Hayden Pascoe. It was Capehart's first goal of the season, as she missed a considerable amount of the season due to injury. She moved to eighth in program history in points (50) and into a tie for fourth in game-winning goals (8). Capehart also ranks sixth in goals (22).
Freshman Rachel Ernst tallied her second game-winner of the year in the 82nd minute to lift the Flashes over the Broncos. Senior Katie Kingsbury recorded both shutouts between the pipes, as the Flashes registered their MAC-leading 10th shutout of the season. This year's Flashes are now second in program history for shutouts in a season, and are one away from tying the 2003 team.
Season Notes
Kent State ranks first in the MAC in save percentage (0.862), goals against average (0.55) and shutouts (10), and also ranks in the top-25 nationally in all three statistics. The defense hasn't surrendered a multi-goal game in eight consecutive matches. The last team to score two goals against Kent State, was Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 1.
The Golden Flashes recorded their seventh consecutive 10-win season, the longest such streak in program history.
Kent State has won eight matches with a 1-0 final score, which is the most in a season at Kent State.
The Golden Flashes rank second in the conference in assists (23) and fifth in points (63).
Two Flashes won awards the first week in October, with sophomore Sierra Henderson-Muschett garnering conference Defensive Player of the Week recognition and junior Ashleah McDonald earning MAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors.
Two of freshman Isabelle Mihail's three goals have been game-winners in 1-0 matches (Sept. 7 vs. Pitt & Sept 29 at Miami). Fellow freshman Rachel Ernst also has two game-winners in 1-0 games (Sept. 24 vs. Eastern Michigan & Oct. 15 at Western Michigan).
Flashes freshmen (Vital Kats, Isabelle Mihail, Cameron Shedenhelm, Rachel Ernst) have combined to score 12 of the squad's 20 goals.
Seniors Karli Paracca and Kristen Brots and freshman Karly Hellstrom are tied for the team-lead in assists with four apiece.
Junior goalkeeper Ashleah McDonald leads the MAC in goals against average (0.62) and save percentage (.860) and ranks second in shutouts per game (0.50). Her shutout at Buffalo was the 33rd of her career, which is second all-time at Kent State.
Senior goalkeeper Katie Kingsbury commands a 0.40 goals against average with five starts in net and three shutouts.
Freshman Cameron Shedenhelm scored two goals against St. Bonaventure, becoming the first Flashes' freshman to score more than one goal in a match since Donavan Capehart in 2014.
Freshman Karly Hellstrom tallied two assists against St. Bonaventure and is the first freshman to record a multi-assist match since her sister, All-American Jenna Hellstrom, tallied a program record four assists against Eastern Michigan in 2013.
Scouting Toledo
The Rockets (7-6-3, 4-2-2 MAC) enter Thursday's match in fifth place in the MAC with 14 points. Toledo split its two matches last week, defeating Akron (4-2) and falling to Buffalo (1-0). Hannah Scafaria leads the Rockets with 17 points and eight goals. Sophie Pohl and Alena Sidwell are tied for the team-lead with three assists.
Toledo is led in goal by Madison Perrin (1.30 gaa), who has played every minute of the season. Overall, opponents are outscoring Toledo 22-21.
TJ Buchholz is in his third season as the Rockets head coach, and has an overall record of 34-28-4. He guided the Rockets to a MAC Tournament appearance his first season.
Scouting Bowling Green
The Falcons (10-5-0, 5-3-0 MAC) are third in the MAC standings with 15 points, and are the highest scoring team in the league with 32 goals. Bowling Green is on a three-match winning streak after defeating Buffalo (3-2) and Akron (2-0) last weekend.
Skylar Fleak is one of the most prolific scorers in the country as she ranks 10th in total points (27) and 13th in total goals (13). Erica Hubert has been a reliable second option with 15 points (6g, 3a).
Victoria Cope is 9-5-0 in net for the Falcons, and holds a 1.26 gaa. Bowling Green is outscoring its opponents 32-18.
This is the first season for head coach Matt Fannon. He was previously the head man at Division III Wittenberg.
Series History
The Golden Flashes lead the all-time series over the Rockets 12-9-2. Last season, Kent State won 2-1 and received a two-goal performance from Jenna Hellstrom. Kent State has won four of the last five meetings.
Bowling Green has an 11-7-5 advantage against the Flashes, while Kent State has won three of the last four. Donavan Capehart scored the game-winner last year in the 1-0 Kent State win.
MAC Tournament Outlook
Kent State can clinch hosting the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament by winning at least one of its three remaining matches. The top eight teams qualify for the tournament, with the quarterfinal round hosted by the top four seeds. The semifinals and championship will be hosted by the highest remaining seed after the quarterfinal round.
1. Kent State 21 (7-1-0)
2. Ball State 19 (6-1-1)
3. Bowling Green 15 (5-3-0)
4. Northern Illinois 15 (5-3-0)
3. Toledo 14 (4-2-2)
6. Buffalo 13 (4-3-1)
7. Ohio 13 (4-3-1)
8. Western Michigan 10 (3-4-1)
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9. Miami 7 (2-5-1)
10. Eastern Michigan 6 (2-6-0)
11. Central Michigan 5 (1-5-2)
12. Akron 1 (0-7-1)
Up Next
Kent State will close out the regular season at Dix Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. against the Ohio Bobcats. The quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament begin on Sunday, Oct. 29.
Dix Stadium Information
All Kent State soccer matches are open seating for fans in the three bleacher grandstands. Access to the Dix Stadium press box and loge is reserved for those with proper credentials.
Parking is available in the main Dix Stadium parking lot in front of the main entrance or by the field house free of charge. Parking on the ring road around Dix Stadium is strictly prohibited. Handicap accessibility is available under cover on the northeast side, by the end zone closest to the field house.
Follow the Flashes
All nine Kent State home matches will be video streamed on kentstatesports.com.
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad.
