Kent State University
Butler
Soccer Opens Slate With Home Matches Against Butler and St. Bonaventure
8/15/2018 9:37:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match #1
vs. Butler | Thursday, Aug. 16 | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Video
Match #2
vs. St. Bonaventure | Sunday, Aug. 19 | 1 p.m.
Live Stats | Video
KENT, Ohio – Last year's defending Mid-American Conference regular season champion, Kent State soccer, opens its 2018 regular season slate with a pair of home matches in the friendly confines of Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes will square off against Butler on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. and finish out the first weekend of play hosting St. Bonaventure on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m.
About the Flashes
Kent State is coming off back-to-back MAC Championship seasons after winning the tournament in 2016 and the regular season last year. The Golden Flashes return Third Team All-American and last year's MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Paige Culver, from a defense that tied the program record in shutouts (11). All-MAC Second Team defender Sierra Henderson-Muschett and Amanda Reed, who started every match, returns to the back line.
Sophomore Vital Kats turned in an impressive freshman campaign last season, leading the team with 16 points (6g, 4a) and took home the MAC Freshman of the Year award. Sophomore Maddie Holmes brings more experience to the midfield position as she started in all 21 matches a season ago. The Golden Flashes welcome in USF transfer Yasmine Hall, who will look to provide an immediate impact.
Sophomore forward Isabelle Mihail is back for her second season with the Flashes after scoring 10 points (4g, 2a) last season and was named to the All-MAC Freshman Team. Mihail gained valuable experience this summer playing for the Romanian National Team and scored the match-tying goal against Portugal in the FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifying Round. Sophomore Cameron Shedenhelm was fifth on the team with 7 points (3g, 1a) and played in all 21 matches last season as a freshman.
Senior Ashleah McDonald brings an experience presence between the pipes as she is second in program history in goals against average (0.96) and is one win short of tying Stephanie Senn (2012-15), with 35 career victories.
This season will be the 18th year for veteran head coach Rob Marinaro, who is the winningest coach in program history with a 165-131-37 record.
Scouting Butler
Butler is coming off a 2017 campaign, in which they finished second in the BIG EAST with a 13-2-6 record and made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team for the first time in program history. Butler tied 0-0 with Northwestern, but did not advance and fell on penalty kicks, 3-2. This year, the Bulldogs were voted to finish second behind last year's champion Georgetown in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Bulldogs will be led by redshirt junior Annika Schmidt and senior Paige Monaghan, who were both named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Monaghan was tabbed the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and like Kent State's Paige Culver, was selected to the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. The Bulldogs are led by co-head coaches Tari St. John and Rob Alman.
Scouting St. Bonaventure
The Bonnies were picked to finish tied for 12th in the Atlantic 10 Conference's preseason coaches' poll. Last year St. Bonaventure was 2-14-3 with a 2-6-2 mark in league action. Senior Marley Jarvis led the 2017 Bonnies with five points (2g, 1a). Junior goalkeeper Lauren Malcolm returns this season after starting in all but one match last seasons and allowed a 1.87 goals against average. Head coach Steve Brdarski is in his sixth season at the helm of the program.
Series History
The Golden Flashes lead the all-time series against Butler 1-0-1, with Kent State winning, 2-1, on the road in the previous matchup. This year's meeting is the first time the two will square off in Kent. Kent State is only 1-0-2 against current BIG EAST teams.
Kent State is 6-1 against the Bonnies and won last year's meeting, 4-0, in Olean. Cameron Shedenhelm scored two goals and Karly Hellstrom picked up two assists as the Flashes coasted to victory. The defense was tremendous and did not allow a shot on goal and just five total shots. The Flashes are 9-4 when facing Atlantic 10 teams.
Up Next
Kent State hits the road for its second weekend of the season with two matches against regional opponents. The Flashes will battle Pitt in the Steel City on Friday, Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. and make the short drive to battle Cleveland State on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 1 p.m.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad.
