Kent State University
Miami University
Soccer Travels to Miami and Ball State
9/27/2017 10:02:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match #11
at Miami | Friday, Sept. 29 | 4 p.m.
Live Stats
Match #12
at Ball State | Sunday, Oct. 1 | 1 p.m.
Live Stats
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State soccer team (6-3-1, 2-0 MAC) take their first conference road swing of the campaign to tangle with Miami (0-9, 0-2 MAC) on Friday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. and Ball State on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. The Golden Flashes were one of three Mid-American Conference teams to win both matches on the opening weekend of league play.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes defeated Central Michigan (2-1) and Eastern Michigan (1-0) to open up Mid-American Conference play 2-0 for the second consecutive season. Against the Chippewas, Kent State allowed the first goal of the match in the 16th minute and then battled back with a Karli Paracca goal in the 47th minute to tie the match. Sierra Henderson-Muschett scored her first career goal in what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute. Ashleah McDonald made a season-high eight saves in net.
Kent State scored the lone goal against Eastern Michigan in the 21st minute, as Rachel Ernst found the back of the net from 15 yards out for her first career goal. The Flashes and Eagles battled intense heat conditions, with temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and Kent State was able to play excellent defense the rest of the way. McDonald registered her third shutout of the year and made three saves.
Kent State Season Notes
The Flashes rank first in the MAC in fewest goals allowed (8), goals against average (0.78) and shutouts (5). Kent State also is second in assists (15), fourth in goals (13), and fifth in goals per game (1.30).
Freshman Vital Kats is tied for third in the MAC in goals (4), fourth in points (10), goals per game (0.44), and fifth in points per game (1.11).
Junior Ashleah McDonald is third in the MAC in goals against average (0.83), save percentage (.833), and fourth in shutouts per game (0.38).
Kent State freshmen have scored 30 of the team's 42 total points.
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. Karly Hellstrom leads the team with four assists.
Scouting Miami
The RedHawks (0-9, 0-2 MAC) were tabbed to finish third in the MAC East in the Women's Soccer Preseason Poll, but enter Friday's match looking for their first win of the season. Miami scored two of its three goals on the season in the first conference weekend, road losses to Toledo (3-1) and Bowling Green (4-1). Olivia Winnett leads the team in scoring with two of the team's three goals. Katie Alexander has also scored a goal. Miami has been shutout in six of its nine matches and outscored 19-3 this season.
Patricia Koutoulas (2.11 gaa) has played every minute in net and ranks first in the MAC in saves per game (5.44) and third in saves (49).
Hugh Seyfarth is Miami's interim head coach and spent two stints (1998-2004, 2013-present) with the RedHawks' program. He was the head coach of Division II Florida Southern College for eight seasons.
Scouting Ball State
The Cardinals (3-5-2, 1-0-1 MAC) are the defending 2016 MAC regular season champions, and were picked to win the 2017 tournament and the MAC West Division in the Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. Ball State won its first league match at Bowling Green (2-1), with Julia Elvbo netting the game winning goal in the 79th minute, and tied with Toledo (1-1). Sam Kambol leads Ball State with six points (3g), with two of her goals being game-winners. Amanda Shaw is second on the squad with five points (2g, 1a), and leads the team with 12 shots on goal.
Ball State regularly uses two net minders with Tristin Stuteville and Alyssa Heintschel each seeing significant minutes. Stuteville (1.65 gaa) has played in 490 minutes and is 0-3-2. Heintschel, a two-time All-MAC First Team honoree, ranks second in the MAC in goals against average (0.61) and save percentage (.870) and 3-2 in 442 minutes of action. She is also one of 30 candidates nationwide for the 2017 Senior CLASS Award for women's soccer, which is based on community, classroom, character and competition.
Craig Roberts is in his eighth season as head coach for Ball State, and was previously the head coach at UT Martin for four seasons. He commands a 111-78-36 career mark and 77-49-24 record in Muncie.
Series History
Kent State is 7-12-3 against Miami in program history. Last season the Flashes won 3-0 at Dix Stadium behind a two-goal performance by Jenna Hellstrom and a goal from Dominique DiNardo. Prior to last year's match, Miami was 6-0-2 against Kent State in the previous eight matches, including a 0-0 tie in the 2015 MAC Tournament Quarterfinals that the RedHawks advanced on penalty kicks. The RedHawks have an 8-2 advantage in Oxford, where Kent State has not won since 2006.
The Golden Flashes are 9-10-2 when facing Ball State. The last meeting in 2016, Kent State fell, 2-1, in overtime in last season's only loss at Dix Stadium. Historically, it has been a series of runs as the Cardinals have won the last four meetings, while Kent State won six in a row from 2009-2013. The Golden Flashes are 2-6-2 on the road in Muncie.
Up Next
The Golden Flashes will make a shorter than usual turnaround with they host rival Akron on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at Dix Stadium as part of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad.
