Kent State University
University of Pittsburgh
Flashes Host Pitt Thursday, Flyers on Sunday for Senior Day
9/6/2017 9:39:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match #6
vs. Pitt | Thursday, Sept. 7 | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch
Match #7
vs. Dayton | Sunday, Sept. 10 | 1 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State soccer team (2-3) returns home to Dix Stadium for a pair of matches as part of Parents and Families Weekend. The Golden Flashes host Pitt (3-1-2) on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. and in-state foe Dayton (2-3) on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.
Prior to Sunday's contest against the Flyers, Kent State will honor its seven seniors — Katie Kingsbury, Karli Paracca, Hayden Pascoe, Jaime Eiben, Mackenzie Lesnick, Kristen Brots and Donavan Capehart — as part of Senior Day festivities.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes split their two matches at the FGCU Tournament in Fort Myers last week, falling to host Florida Gulf Coast, 2-0, and defeating Florida Atlantic, 1-0. Kent State battled weather delays all Friday night, as an originally scheduled 7 p.m. match was pushed back to a 9 p.m. kickoff against the Eagles. Despite 13 shots in the contest, the Flashes were unable to score a goal for the first time this season. Senior Katie Kingsbury made four saves in goal.
Freshman Cameron Shedenhelm tallied the game-winning goal, her team high third of the year, in the 63rd minute on assists from Kristen Brots and Isabelle Mihail in Sunday's contest against Florida Atlantic. The Kent State back row played well in recording its second shutout in the last three matches. Offensively, Kent State recorded a season-best 20 shots. Junior Ashleah McDonald recorded the shutout win while making five saves.
Senior Donavan Capehart, junior Paige Culver and freshman Cameron Shedenhelm were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Season Notes
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.Â
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.
Kent State currently ranks second in the Mid-American Conference in assists (1.40) and third in points (21), goals (7) and shots (75).
Cameron Shedenhelm ranks third in the MAC in points (6) and goals (3),
Scouting Pitt
The Panthers were picked 14th in the ACC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. Pitt was 2-15-1 last year and 1-9 in ACC matches. This season, the Panthers are off to a better start at 3-1-2. They split last week's matches, defeating Detroit 3-1, and falling to Illinois State, 1-0. Freshman goalkeeper Katelyn McEachern (0.86 gaa) is the first new Panther keeper since the 2014 season, and garnered ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Aug. 22 after recording back-to-back shutouts vs. Hofstra and Duquesne while making eight saves. Pitt ranks 27th in the country in save percentage (0.884).
Redshirt junior Taylor Pryce leads the Panthers with eight points (3g, 2a) and ranks third in Pitt history in points per match (0.75). Head coach Greg Miller is in his fifth season at the helm and has led the Panthers to a 32-58-7 record. This is the first of Pitt's three-match road trip, as they will face Nebraska on Sunday before opening up ACC play next Friday at Wake Forest.
Scouting Dayton
The Flyers were picked as the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason favorite for the ninth consecutive year, and forward Alexis Kiehl and defender Nadia Pestell were selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Dayton was 9-10-3 a season ago and won the Atlantic 10 Tournament, outscoring their opponents 12-0 and blitzing Saint Joseph's 7-0 in the Atlantic 10 Championship match. The Flyers fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against host Ohio State, 3-2.
This season Dayton is 2-3 and is coming off a 2-0 setback to Purdue last weekend after shutting out Saint Francis (Pa.) and Marshall, both by a 3-0 score. Micayla Livingston leads the Flyers with six points (2g, 2a). Sara Robertson has also knocked in two goals. Junior Kaelyn Johns (0.77gaa) has started all five matches in net. Head coach Eric Golz is in his first season at Dayton and previously was at Illinois State for two years, where he posted a record of 20-16-5.
Series History
Pitt has a 4-1-1 advantage in the all-time series with the Golden Flashes. Last year Kent State defeated the Panthers, 2-1, in double-overtime behind a game-winning goal from Karli Paracca in the 102nd minute at Ambrose Urbanic Field in Pittsburgh. Last year's matchup ended a five-year drought in the series, which was previously played every year from 2006 through 2010. Kent State is 2-7-2 against teams from the ACC.
The Golden Flashes won the only prior meeting against Dayton, 3-2, last season. Jenna Hellstrom scored both goals for Kent State, with Ashleah McDonald recording the win in goal, making seven saves. Kent State is 9-3 against teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference and defeated A10 member St. Bonaventure, 4-0, earlier this season.
Up Next
The Flashes have one more non-conference match at Xavier next week on Thursday, Sept. 14 before kicking off MAC play at home the following weekend against Central Michigan on Friday, Sept. 22 and Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 24.
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.
