Kent State University
Cleveland State
Soccer Opens Season at Home Against Cleveland State
8/22/2019 1:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Kent State (0-0) soccer team kicks off its 23rd season of competition by hosting regional rival Cleveland State (0-0) on Friday, August 23 under the lights at Dix Stadium at 7 p.m. The match can be viewed on Boxcast.
Flashes Picked Third in MAC Preseason Poll
The Golden Flashes were tabbed to finish third in the Mid-American Conference preseason coaches' poll and received three votes to win the league's postseason tournament. Kent State had the second most tournament championship votes behind last season's regular season and tournament champion, Bowling Green. Kent State finished the 2018 campaign with its eighth consecutive 10-win season and is the only MAC team to accomplish that mark.
About the Flashes
Kent State returns its top four goal scorers from a season ago, led by junior Vital Kats. Her 25 points (8g, 9a) was the sixth most in a single-season in program history and she was named to the All-MAC First Team and USC All-Region First Team.
Junior Maddie Holmes enjoyed a breakout season a year ago and registered 15 points (6g, 3a) and was the Flashes' second leading goal-scorer. She earned a Second Team All-MAC nod and paced KSU with 1,730 minutes played. Junior Cameron Shedenhelm was limited to 14 matches, but registered 11 points (3g, 5a).
The defense is anchored by senior Sierra Henderson-Muschett, who was limited to 13 matches last season, but was an All-MAC First Team selection in 2017. Senior Amanda Reed is a two-year starter in the back row and last season was a CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team recipient.
Redshirt sophomore netminder Faith O'Neill is back after her MAC All-Freshman Team selection. She was tied for second in the conference with six shutouts and registered 58 total saves.
Head coach Rob Marinaro enters his 19th season at the helm of the program and has guided the Flashes to a 175-139-39 mark.
Scouting Cleveland State
The Vikings were selected to finish third in the Horizon League Preseason Poll as selected by the league head coaches and received two first-place votes. CSU went 11-7-1 overall and 6-2-1 in league action while setting school records in total and conference wins. The Vikings advanced to the Horizon League championship for the first time in program history and fell to Milwaukee, 1-0. Sophomore Ja'Maya Ward is the leading returning scorer after totaling 12 points (4g, 4a) and was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team. Junior goalkeeper Stevie Holbrook returns after posting an 11-6-1 record, six shutouts and an .818 save percentage.
Series History
Kent State holds a 9-2-1 record all-time against Cleveland State and is 5-2 at home. Last season, the Golden Flashes traveled to CSU and won 2-0 behind Khyla Porter's two-goal outburst. Cleveland State was victorious in the last match inside Dix Stadium, 2-1, in the 2017 home opener. Kent State is 22-9-2 all-time against the Horizon League.
Up Next
Kent State hits the road to the Rocky Mountain State for a pair of matches. The Flashes will take on Colorado on Thursday, August 29th at 6:30 p.m. EST and travels to Denver on Saturday, August 31st at 9 p.m. EST.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow Kent State Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and in-match updates about the squad.
