Kent State University
Ball State
Flashes Commence Home MAC Play Against Ball State and Miami
9/27/2018 11:21:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Kent State (4-5-1) begins its first Mid-American Conference home weekend of the season by taking on Ball State (5-2-1) on Friday, Sept. 28th at 7 p.m. and Miami (2-6-1) on Sunday, Sept. 30th at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on kentstatesports.com.
Friday's game against the Cardinals is Alzheimer's Aware Night, as the team will be wearing purple to help raise awareness for the disease. Sunday will feature a free stress ball giveaway to the first 250 fans in attendance for the annual "She Will" game.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes dropped their first two matches of Mid-American Conference play against Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan last weekend. It was scoreless until the 71st minute when the Eagles scored two late goals for the 2-0 win. The Golden Flashes still led the Eagles shots (20-12) and shots on goal (7-3). Sophomores Cameron Shedenhelm and Vital Kats led the team, combining for14 shots, and seven shots on goal.
The Chippewas got on the board early in Sunday's match when Shannon Magnan scored on a long cross from Maria Kaschalk and found the back on the net in the 20th minute. Kent State responded in the 53rd minute on Kats' third penalty kick goal of the season. Central Michigan found the net, scoring the game-winner in the 69th minute for the 2-1 victory. Kent State had some chances early but could not capitalize when two shots banged off the crossbar in the first period.
#FlashFacts
Sophomore Isabelle Mihail, freshman Khyla Porter and junior Yasmine Hall have each scored two goals in a match this season. It's the second consecutive year a freshman scored twice in the same match, as Cameron Shedenhelm accomplished the feat at St. Bonaventure in 2017. It's also the first time since the 2016 season that three different players 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.
All three of sophomore Vital Kats' goals this season have come on penalty kicks which is tied for second most in school history and second in the NCAA this season.
Kent State Picked to win MAC Regular Season and Tournament
The Golden Flashes were selected to win the Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament championship in the preseason coaches' poll. Kent State has been selected to win a regular season championship in three consecutive years after they were named to win the MAC East Division in 2016 and 2017.
Scouting Ball State
The Cardinals have only one loss in their last six matches, but split their first weekend of conference action. They won in a shutout, 2-0, over Toledo before Bowling Green shut-out the Cardinals, 3-0, on Sunday. It was first time since 2014 Ball State lost in a shutout in a MAC match. Ball State has recorded three shutouts this year against Morehead State, College of Charleston and Toledo. Freshman Tatiana Mason leads the team with three goals and seven points. Ball State was selected to finish second in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll and are led by ninth-year head coach Craig Roberts.
Scouting Miami
Miami has dropped its last four matches after earning back-to-back non-conference victories against Illinois State and Evansville. The RedHawks were shutout by the Falcons, 2-0 on Friday, and dropped Sunday's match against the Rockets, 2-1. Freshman forward Lyda Bogdanovitch leads the way on offense with three goals. Miami was tabbed to finish 12th overall in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll and is led by first-year head coach Courtney Sirmans.
Series History
Ball State leads the all-time series over Kent State, 9-11-2, and has won the last five matches. The Golden Flashes have won four straight games against the RedHawks, however Miami leads the all-time series, 8-12-3. The Golden Flashes won in Oxford last season, 1-0, on a game-winner by Isabelle Mihail in the 55th minute.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad
