Kent State University
Central Michigan University
Golden Flashes Kick Off Conference Action This Weekend at Dix Stadium
9/20/2017 12:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Match #9
vs. Central Michigan | Friday, Sept. 22 | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch
Match #10
vs. Eastern Michigan | Sunday, Sept. 24 | 1 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State soccer team (4-3-1) welcomes Central Michigan (5-2-1) on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. and Eastern Michigan (3-5-1) on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. to Dix Stadium for the first weekend of Mid-American Conference action.
The Golden Flashes have won their last two MAC openers, defeating Toledo, 2-1, last year, and Akron in 2015, 3-1.
Last Time Out
Kent State played Xavier to a 1-1 tie in double-overtime at the XU Soccer Complex in Cincinnati last Thursday. The Flashes got on the scoreboard in the 14th minute on Vital Kats' fourth goal of the season. Kats placed a shot in the lower right portion of the goal with Karli Paracca talling her first assist of the season.
The Musketeers netted the equalizer in the 43rd minute. The Golden Flashes led in shots 16-9, and outshot Xavier including 4-0 in the overtime periods.
Kent State Season Notes
Kent State ranks first in the MAC in goals against average (0.85) and fourth in points (30) and goals per game (1.25).
The Golden Flashes enter MAC play with a four-match unbeaten streak. Kent State defeated Florida Atlantic, Pitt and Dayton by identical 1-0 finals prior to the Xavier match.
Vital Kats is tied for third in the MAC in points (9) and goals (4) and fourth in goals per game (0.57). She has netted two game-winning goals for the Flashes.
Goalkeeper Ashleah McDonald ranks fourth in the MAC in goals against average (0.96) and shutouts per game (0.33) and sixth in save percentage (.792).
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 Central Michigan
Central Michigan was picked to finish second in the MAC West in the preseason coaches' poll. Peter McGahey is in his 5th season at the helm and holds a 40-37-10 record.
The Chippewas ended non-conference action with a 5-2-1 record and defeated Mount St. Mary's (4-2), Detroit Mercy (2-0) and Loyola Chicago (2-1 OT) in their last three contests.
Junior Lexi Pelafas is second in the MAC with 13 points (6g, 1a) and tallied her first career hat trick Saturday against Mount St. Mary's to earn MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Pelafas led the MAC with a school-record 16 goals and was named NSCAA First Team All-Great Lakes Region in 2016. The Chippewas swept the conference's weekly awards on Aug. 29th, when Madison Costner totaled three goals and an assist against Robert Morris and Oakland and Mary Carlson aided in a shutout win against the Colonials.
Zoie Reed (1.20 gaa) has played every minute in goal for the Chippewas and is second in the conference in save percentage (.804) and third in saves per game (5.13).
Scouting Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan was selected to finish fourth in the MAC West by the league's 12 head coaches. The Eagles are 3-5-1 and are coming off setbacks against Utah State (2-1) and Detroit Mercy (3-0). Sabrina McNeill leads Eastern Michigan with six points (2g, 2a) and is third in the MAC in shots (28) and shots per game (4.0). All-MAC goalkeeper Kaylin Williams (1.82 gaa) has started all nine matches in net for the Eagles and was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 10 for shutting out Youngstown State and Oakland.
Kent State and Eastern Michigan both played Florida Atlantic and Florida Gulf Coast in non-conference play. The Flashes defeated the Owls 1-0 and fell to the Eagles 1-0. Eastern Michigan dropped both to FAU and FGCU, 3-0 and 5-1, respectively.
The Eagles are led by veteran head coach Scott Hall, who is in his 19th season as head coach, with a career record of 173-142-50. Hall and Kent State head coach Rob Marinaro have both been named MAC Coach of the Year a record three times and been members of the coaching staff since the inception of their respective programs.
Series History
Central Michigan holds an 11-8-3 all-time record against Kent State. The teams met twice last year, a 1-1 tie in the regular season in Mt. Pleasant, and a 3-1 Flashes win in the MAC Tournament semifinals at Dix Stadium en route to the program's first tournament championship. Jamie Eiben scored a goal in the regular season contest, and Karli Paracca, Hayden Pascoe and Jenna Hellstrom scored Kent State's goals in the tournament. The Golden Flashes fell to the Chippewas, 1-0 in 2012, the last time the two matched up to begin MAC competition. Central Michigan leads the series 6-2-1 in Kent.
The Eagles hold the lead in the series 12-10-1. Kent State and Eastern Michigan also faced off twice last season with the first match ending in a 0-0 tie, and a 2-0 Kent State victory in of the MAC Tournament quarterfinals. Hayden Pascoe and Donavan Capehart scored goals against the Eagles in the match. The Golden Flashes have a 7-2 series advantage in home matches.
Up Next
Kent State will battle Miami on Friday, Sept. 29 and Ball State om Sunday, Oct. 1 for their first conference road swing of the year.
Dix Stadium Information
All Kent State soccer matches are open seating for fans in the three bleacher sections. 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.
