Kent State University
Xavier University
Flashes Take On Xavier in Last Non-Conference Match
9/13/2017 9:58:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match #8
at Xavier | Thursday, Sept. 14 | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State soccer team (4-3) hits the road on Thursday Sept. 14, for its last non-conference match of the season at 7 p.m. against Xavier (4-3-1) at the XU Soccer Complex in Cincinnati. The Golden Flashes will look to extend their three-match winning streak.
Last Time Out
The Flashes earned 1-0 shutout victories in home matches against Pitt and Dayton last week. Kent State received a game-winning goal from freshman Isabelle Mihail on an assist from Hayden Pascoe in the 89th minute on a cold and rainy Thursday night against Pitt. It was the first career goal for Mihail and Pascoe's first assist of the season. Junior Ashleah McDonald was stellar in net and made four saves.
Vital Kats scored her second game-winning goal of the season by sneaking a shot in the top corner of the net in the 46th minute against Dayton on senior day. Pascoe and Kristen Brots recorded assists, with Brots' pass splitting two Flyers defenders to find Kats. Senior Katie Kingsbury started the first period and made one save, with McDonald entering for the second period to make three saves.
Kent State has blanked its last three opponents and four shutouts in its last five matches.
Season Notes
Kent State currently ranks first in the Mid-American Conference in shutouts (4), second in goals against average (0.86), and third in points (27), goals (9) and assists (9).
The Golden Flashes rank 32nd in the country in shutout percentage (0.57).
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.
Vital Kats has scored two game-winning goals for the Flashes and ranks third in the MAC in goals (3) and points per game (1.17).
Scouting Xavier
The Musketeers were picked to finish ninth in the BIG EAST Conference Preseason Poll. Xavier enters the match with a 4-3-1 record and coming off a 2-1 win over Northern Kentucky. Junior Samantha Dewey and freshman Sydney Schembri pace the Musketeers with three goals each. Dewey has been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice this year and was named Preseason All-BIG EAST. Sophomore goalkeeper Toni Bizzaro (1.43 gaa) has started all eight matches for Xavier and is second in the BIG EAST in saves per game (6.12).
Nate Lie is in his first season as Xavier's head coach. He previously served as an assistant coach at Cincinnati and Miami. Lie has led the Musketeers to a 4-1-1 record at home this year.
Xavier and Kent State have faced two common opponents in Cleveland State and Pitt. The Musketeers defeated Cleveland State, 3-2, while the Flashes fell to the Vikings, 2-1, in the home opener. Against the Panthers, Kent State was victorious, 1-0, while Xavier tied in double overtime, 1-1.
Series History
This will be the first ever meeting between the two in-state schools. Xavier's inaugural season of soccer was 1984.
The Golden Flashes have only faced one other BIG EAST opponent in Butler, which Kent State is 1-0-1 against.
Up Next
Kent State begins MAC play next weekend, hosting Central Michigan on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. and Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m.
Follow the Flashes
Xavier will provide a stream and live stats.
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad.
