Kent State University
Toledo
Flashes to Host Toledo in MAC Quarterfinal Match
10/29/2021 9:30:00 AM | Women's Soccer
(KENT, Ohio) - The Kent State women's soccer team prepares to host a quarterfinal Mid-American Conference tournament game Sunday at 1 PM at Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium, when the third-seeded Flashes take on the sixth-seeded Toledo Rockets in a win-or-go-home scenario.
How We Got Here
Kent State finds itself in the MAC tournament for the 17th time in its history and first time since 2018. This comes off the heels of a 7-1-3 conference record for the Flashes in 2021 (11-4-3 overall). In their last game, the regular season finale against Ohio, Kent State tied with the Bobcats, 0-0. The stakes of the match were a chance at the number-one seed in the tournament, as both teams shared identical records and sat deadlocked at the top of the standings.
However, a wrinkle was thrown into the equation when the teams tied the match, opening the door for a third party, Bowling Green, to swoop in and grab the top seed at the last minute. Ohio got the slight edge over Kent State in the seeding due to having a better conference goal differential than the Flashes, giving the Bobcats the two-seed and a first round bye. The Flashes weren't as lucky though, winding up not getting the bye by the slimmest of margins and being forced to play in a quarterfinal contest.
It can be easy to get wrapped up in what could have been in terms of seeding, but it's important to not lose focus of the situation in which Kent State finds itself. After being picked to not even make the postseason prior to the start of the 2021 campaign, the Flashes went on an impressive run, only losing a single game in conference play and shutting out five MAC opponents. Redshirt senior forward Cameron Shedenhelm finished the season tied for first in the MAC in goals with 10, and redshirt senior defender Karly Hellstrom finished the year first in the conference in assists with 10.
About the Rockets
Toledo comes to Kent as the sixth and lowest seeded team in the tournament, having gone 5-4-2 in the conference and 10-5-4 overall. In their last game, the Rockets were defeated by Bowling Green in overtime in the same game that propelled the Falcons into the number-one seed. Toledo is led by sophomore forward Ellie Pool and freshman midfielder Olivia Dault, both of whom have six goals on the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Emma Boutorwick has 76 saves.
When the Flashes and Rockets faced off earlier this season in Toledo, Kent State won in overtime, 2-1, after freshman midfielder Alisa Arthur made a game-winning goal in the 96th minute. Historically, these two teams have played each other in the MAC tournament twice before, both times in the quarterfinal round. The Flashes beat the Rockets in their first ever postseason contest in 1998, but lost to Toledo in 2007.
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