Kent State University
10-8-2
Ohio
9-7-3
Soccer’s Season Closes in MAC Tournament Against Ohio
10/28/2018 3:58:00 PM | Women's Soccer
ATHENS, Ohio – The Kent State women's soccer team (10-7-2) fell to Ohio (8-7-3), 2-1, on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament to end the season.
"This team has been through a lot of adversity this season, and I thought they gave it the best they could today but we fell on the short end of it," said Kent State head coach Rob Marinaro. "I'm extremely disappointed for our seniors, I thought they deserved better."
Kent State sophomore midfield Vital Kats scored her eighth goal of the season in the 54th minute to even the match at one. She found the back of the net on a free kick from the left side that angled in for an unassisted goal. Her 25 points this season is fifth in a single season in program history.
The Golden Flashes rattled off 14 total shots and placed seven on goal. Kats and sophomore forward Cameron Shedenhelm tied for the team lead with four apiece. Shedenhelm led the Flashes with three shots on goal.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Faith O'Neill tied her career-high with seven saves while facing 16 total shots. The Coquitlam, British Columbia native also had seven stops in Thursday's regular season finale against Ohio.
The Bobcats scored first as the first half was winding down in the 42nd minute when Mandy Arnzen scored tallied her first of the season. Ohio broke the tie in the 69th minute when Jenni Santacaterina was credited with a goal on a play that Kent State attempted to clear the ball roughly 10 yards in front of the net.
Ohio led in shots (16-14) and shots on goal (9-7) with Kent State leading in corner kicks (6-2). The Bobcats will make their first MAC Tournament semifinal appearance since 2004.
Kent State had a couple of chances to strike first both two shots from Shedenhelm and senior Dominique DiNardo hit the post and bounced out.
Senior defender Paige Culver made her 80th consecutive start and finished her career second in program history in total starts behind Britt Laing's (2003-06) 80.
Kent State has recorded 10 or more wins in every season since 2011 and is the only MAC team to accomplish the feat. KSU is joined by Ball State as the only teams to qualify for the league tournament in each of the last eight seasons.
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad.
Team Stats
Mandy Arnzen (1)
Assisted By: Olivia Sensky
*Off a free kick past the keeper
42:12
KATS,VITAL (8)
*Untouched off the free kick
54:21
Sydney Leckie (4)
Assisted By: Abby Townsend
Cross from 16 saved, 18 got rebound and
68:50
