Kent State University
0-1-0
Butler
1-0-0
Soccer Suffers Season Opening Setback to Butler
8/16/2018 10:22:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's soccer team (0-1-0) dropped its first match of the season to Butler (1-0-0), 3-1, on Thursday night at Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes tied the match midway through the first period, but the Bulldogs scored two unanswered goals to coast to victory.
"Butler is an excellent team and you have to give them a ton of credit. They moved the ball around and stressed us out defensively" said Kent State head coach Rob Marinaro. "I thought we did a pretty good job on defense, but set pieces let us down today. Late in the second half letting a set piece goal in changed the game for us and we have to learn from that and keep on battling."
The Flashes found themselves trailing nine minutes into the contest, but just three minutes later Kent State responded with a tying goal from sophomore Isabelle Mihail. Fellow sophomore Maddie Holmes lofted a precise pass over top of Butler goalkeeper Hannah Luedtke and Mihail finished off the play from 16-yards out.
"The team answered strongly," said Marinaro. "They came back and scored a really nice goal on a counter attack, and that's what's going to build us into a stronger team."
Butler scored another tally off the foot of Morgan Kloosterman in the 40th minute just before halftime and separated even further with Anja Savich's second goal of the match in the 54th minute.
The match featured Kent State's Paige Culver and Butler's Paige Monaghan, who were both named to the MAC Herman Trophy Watchlist, which is the most prestigious individual award in soccer.
The Bulldogs, who are receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, led in shots (18-3), shots on goal (7-2) and corner kicks (3-1). Monaghan led Butler with eight shots.
Kent State sophomore Faith O'Neill (0-1-0) made her first career appearance in net and allowed three goals while making four saves. Butler used a tandem of keepers in Hannah Luedtke (1-0-0) who played the first half and Leonie Doege, who finished the game making one save.
"It's important that we played a really good team like Butler early and they are one of the best teams we will see all season," said Marinaro. "If we can clean some things up and play better as a unit, we can shape ourselves into a better team."
The Golden Flashes remain at home this weekend to complete their season-opening home stand against St. Bonaventure on Sunday, August 19 at 1 p.m.
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad.
Team Stats
SAVICH, Anja (1)
Assisted By: BLACHA, Cassidy
Served into box by 28, blasted into righ
9:06
MIHAIL, Isabelle (1)
Assisted By: HOLMES, Maddie
Chipped over GK off touch pass from 16
12:31
KLOOSTERMAN, Morgan (1)
Assisted By: SODERSTROM, Katie , SCHMIDT, Annika
Long throw into box, bounces around and
40:10
SAVICH, Anja (2)
Assisted By: MONAGHAN, Paige
Putback following shot by 4
54:50
