Kent State University
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Western Michigan
Soccer Closes Regular Season Home Slate
10/17/2018 2:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Kent State (8-6-2, 4-3-1) returns to Dix Stadium for its final regular season home stand of the season and will battle Western Michigan (11-5, 5-3) on Thursday, Oct. 18th at 6 p.m. and Northern Illinois (2-14, 1-7) on Sunday, Oct. 21st at 1 p.m.
Last Time Out
Kent State's four-game win streak was snapped on Friday evening, against Mid-American Conference leader Bowling Green, 3-1. The Falcons scored just three minutes into the match and never looked back, scoring the first three goals. The Golden Flashes avoided the shutout and in the the 83rd minute, as senior defender Paige Culver found the back of the net on a free kick for her first goal since 2016.
The Flashes sent Sunday's match into double-overtime and earned a 0-0 draw against Toledo to close the weekend. Kent State had a couple of opportunities late in the match, but were unable to capitalize. The Flashes had three shots on goal to Toledo's six and were outshot 14-11. Redshirt freshman Faith O'Neill tied her career-high with six saves to keep the Flashes in the game. O'Neill also recorded her fourth shutout on the season.
#FlashFacts
Kent State is in tie for fifth-place in the MAC standings with Toledo, as both teams hold a 4-3-1 record (13 points).
The Golden Flashes have won four MAC weekly awards this season. Senior forward Dominque DiNardo, sophomore forward Isabelle Mihail and freshman forward Khyla Porter have all earned offensive player of the week recognition and redshirt freshman goalkeeper Faith O'Neill earned defensive honors.
Freshman Khyla Porter, junior Yasmine Hall, and sophomores Maddie Holmes, Vital Kats, and Isabelle Mihail have each scored two goals in a match this season. It's the first time in program history that five different players in a single-season have recorded multi-goal games.
Senior goalkeeper Ashleah McDonald now stands atop the program record book with 36 career victories and passed Stephanie Senn (2013-15) against Syracuse on September 13th.
Kent State is 2-0-2 in overtime matches and 6-0 when score multiple goals in a match this season.
Over the last six matches Kent State is 4-1-1 and has outscored opponents, 12-6, while outshooting opponents, 102-47.
Goalkeeper Faith O'Neill registered an assist on DiNardo's game-winning goal at Akron in double-overtime. She's the first Kent State net minder with an assist since Stephanie Senn on October 5, 2014 against Western Michigan.
Three of sophomore Vital Kats' five goals this season have come on penalty kicks which is tied for second most in school history and second in the NCAA this season.
MAC Standings
Team (Overall) W-L Points
1. Bowling Green (10-3-2) 8-0-0 24
2. Ball State (9-3-2) 5-2-1 16
3. Western Michigan (11-5-0) 5-3-0 15
4. Ohio (6-6-3) 4-2-2 14
5. Kent State(8-6-2) 4-3-1 13
5. Toledo (8-6-2) 4-3-1 13
7. Buffalo (10-5-0) 4-4-0 12
7. Central Michigan (6-10-0) 4-4-0 12
9. Eastern Michigan (8-9-0) 3-5-0 9
10. Akron (5-9-2) 2-5-1 7
11. Miami (3-11-1) 1-7-0 3
11. Northern Illinois (2-14-0) 1-7-0 3
The top eight seeds in the league qualify for the MAC Tournament, which begins on Sunday Oct. 28th with the four-highest seeds hosting quarterfinal games. The highest remaining seed after the quarterfinal round hosts the semifinals and championship game on Friday, Nov. 2nd and Sunday, Nov. 4th.
Scouting Western Michigan
The Broncos have dropped two of their last three matches against Ball State and Central Michigan. Western Michigan has been shutout four times this season and has shutout its opponents five times. The Broncos have eight different players with multiple goals this season, and Alyssa Burke (5) leads the way. Western Michigan was selected to finish ninth in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll and is led by first-year head coach Sarah Stanczyk.
Scouting Northern Illinois
The Huskies snapped nine-match losing skid with a 2-1 victory Sunday over Central Michigan. Northern Illinois has been shutout 10 times this season and has been outscored, 45-9. The Huskies were selected to finish tied for tenth in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll and are led by first-year head coach Julie Colhoff.
Series History
Kent State has not dropped a match against Western Michigan since 2011, and has outscored the Broncos 16-6 in that stretch. The Golden Flashes lead the all-time series 12-6-3. Kent State has not lost to the Huskies since the 2013 season and leads the all-time series against Northern Illinois, 10-9-4. In 2016, Kristen Brots scored the game-winning goal in the MAC Championship game for Kent State's first tournament championship in program history.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad.
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