Kats' Six Points Lead Kent State Over NIU

Sunday, October 21

Kent, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

9-7-2, 5-4-1MAC

Northern Illinois

2-16-0, 1-9-0MAC

Northern Illinois

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

10/21/2018 5:09:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

KENT, Ohio – Behind a surging offensive attack the Kent State soccer team (9-7-2, 5-4-1 MAC) rolled over Northern Illinois (2-16-0, 1-9-0 MAC), 6-0, on a cold and windy the Sunday afternoon home finale at Dix Stadium. The six goals are tied for the second most goals in a match in program history.

Sophomore Vital Kats turned in an exceptional six-point performance which tied the program record for second most in a game. The Toronto, Ontario native scored her first tally in the 30th minute on a free kick assist from senior Paige Culver and scored her second in the 56th minute on a pass from sophomore Cameron Shedenhelm to score from point blank range. Kats came up just two points short of tying Jessica Gironda's eight-point match against Bowling Green in 2013.

Kent State controlled the match from the outset as Shedenhelm scored her second goal of the season four minutes into the contest. Culver scored her second goal of the season 27 minutes later on a free kick before Kats poured in her two goals to put KSU in the driver's seat, 4-0.

Senior Dominque DiNardo scored in 78th minute from roughly 13 yards out for her third goal of the season, and nearly scored again in the 87th minute, but the ball ricocheted off a Huskie defender for an own goal.

The Golden Flashes set a Dix Stadium record with six goals and is the most the team has scored since a program record seven against Northern Illinois in 2015.

Kent State's defense answered the call for its fifth shutout of the season and fourth in Mid-American Conference action. Northern Illinois was unable to record a shot in the first period.

Kent State registered a season-high 28 shots with 18 placed on net. The Flashes outshot Northern Illinois, 28-4, and led in corner kicks, 6-2.

Redshirt freshman Faith O'Neill (7-6-2) made two saves in net.

The regular season concludes on the road at Ohio on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. The top eight teams in the league qualify for the MAC Tournament which will begin at campus sites.

Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad.