Kent State Enters NFHCA Coaches Poll at No. 23
9/7/2021 1:02:00 PM | Field Hockey
BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Following two wins over ranked opponents last week, the Kent State field hockey team came in at No. 23 in the latest Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll, which was announced on Tuesday.
The Golden Flashes (3-1) have earned their first spot in the national top-25 rankings since being voted No. 17 during the first month of the 2010 season.
Goals by Jenna McCrudden and Ashley Bonetz during the first six minutes of the second half allowed Kent State take control in a 3-1 win against No. 22 Ohio State at Murphy-Mellis Field on Tuesday. Terrific play in goal by Azure Fernsler and a third period goal by Clara Rodriguez Seto pushed Saturday's game at 14th-ranked Syracuse to overtime, and McCrudden found the back of the net in the fourth minute of the extra period for the golden goal.
This is the first season the Flashes have beaten multiple ranked teams since 2010. That season, Kent State earned a 2-1 overtime win against No. 8 Syracuse and defeated No. 5 Michigan State, 2-0.
Kent State seeks to climb the national rankings this weekend with a pair of top-25 showdowns at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Illinois. The Flashes will battle No. 5 Northwestern on Friday and then No. 25 Maine on Saturday. Both contests are scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
