Field Hockey Advances to MAC Championship

Friday, November 3

Kent, OH

2:00 p.m.

Kent State University

(9-9)

Longwood (MAC Tournament)

(11-6)

Longwood

Kent State

11/3/2017 5:56:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – The Kent State University field hockey team (9-9) lit up the scoreboard to begin the MAC Tournament Friday, taking down the Longwood Lancers (11-6), 4-2, Saturday at Murphy-Mellis Field.

The Golden Flashes played a close first half Friday in the semifinal game, but pulled away after 30 minutes. The Flashes entered the tournament as the second seed and received a tough draw against third seeded Longwood, a team that took them to overtime two weeks prior. The close match spilled into Friday's affair, with three goals coming in the first 11 minutes.

Longwood struck first, scoring on an unassisted goal in the sixth minute. The 1-0 lead would not last long, as Kent State posted their first goal in the eighth minute. Jessica Nesbitt, a First Team All-MAC honoree and the MAC leader in assists, found Helen Harper directly in front of the goal. Harper posted her sixth goal of the season from point blank range.

Four minutes later, Kent State took a 2-1 lead on a goal from Laila Richter. Richter scored her team-best eighth goal of the season on an unassisted play, driving the ball right into the goal. That lead was short lived, as Longwood tied the match at 2-2 in the 20^th minute indirectly off a corner.

The match looked to be headed for a halftime tie, but the Flashes grabbed the lead in the 31^st minute. Silvia Figa Malgosa drew a hard foul in the circle, signaling the ref to call for a penalty stroke. Figa Malgosa converted for her second goal of the season, sealing the 3-2 halftime score.

Kent State's final goal came in the 41^st minute from All-MAC talent Berta Jover Llorens in the 41^st minute. The Flash controlled the ball after it deflected off a defender's foot and scored from the left side of the goal.

Kent State's defense took over in the second half, limiting the Lancers to just three shots over the last 35 minutes. The defense allowed just one shot on goal in the second half.

Overall, Kent State led Longwood in shots, 13-10, and penalty corners, 6-5. Kent State forced four Longwood saves, while Kylie LeBlanc came up with five.

The Flashes will move onto the MAC Championship game, taking on top-seeded Miami at 2 p.m. Saturday at Murphy-Mellis Field.