Kent State University
Youngstown State
Lax Readies for YSU, Saint Francis
3/16/2022 4:31:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
KENT, Ohio - This week, the Kent State lacrosse team has a pair of games on the docket: first, the Golden Flashes host Youngstown State on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Dix Stadium. Then on Saturday, the Flashes travel to Pennsylvania, to face off with Saint Francis at 1 p.m.
About the Flashes
Kent State is 2-7 this season, including 0-3 within the Mid-American Conference. In their last game, the Flashes fell to Marquette.
But the Flashes will look to get back to their winning ways with help from reliable players like junior Kenzie Sklar, sophomore Jackie Wolford, and senior Abby Jones. That trio of scorers has been the secret to Kent State's success this season when they've found it, with those three players combining for 45 goals and 37 points. Jones also leads the team in draw controls with 30. Senior Anna Woodhams is first on the team in ground balls with 20.
As a team, Kent State arguably experienced its best play in a 15-12 victory at Presbyterian on February 25, when they had their highest season totals in points (17), goals (15), and shots on goal (24). In a tight road loss to Akron on February 23, the Flashes saw season highs in shots (30), saves (14), and ground balls (29).
About the Penguins
Youngstown State is 4-3 this season, including 2-0 within the MAC. In their last time out, the Penguins defeated Detroit Mercy in an overtime thriller, 12-11. This was eerily similar to their other conference win, which came nine days earlier when they beat Akron, 12-11, also in overtime.
Natalie Calandra-Ryan leads the Penguins with 23 goals. However, her 10 assists pale in comparison to the total of Erin Clark, who's picked up 20 assists on the year in combination with 19 goals. Clark also has more points than Calendra-Ryan, 39-33. Savannah Clarke has 64 saves for YSU on 170 shots faced, good enough for a .474 save percentage.
The Flashes and Penguins have faced each other twice in history, both in 2021, with each side going 1-1.
About the Red Flash
Saint Francis comes into the week with a record of 2-4 on the season, with four of the six teams they've played being teams that Kent State will have played once the two sides meet on Saturday. The Red Flash opened their season with a 19-6 loss to Youngstown State, before going on to get their first win of the year at Akron, 10-6. Saint Francis also lost to Central Michigan, who got the best of the Flashes as well earlier in the campaign. But the Red Flash beat Presbyterian on Tuesday, 10-7, for their second win of the year, a team which Kent State has beaten both this year and last year.
In that Presbyterian game, Saint Francis saw Amanda Heidt get four goals in the victory, as well as an assist. Goalkeeper and North Canton native Elyssa Enrique saved 15 shots along the way.
Saint Francis is 2-0 lifetime against the Flashes.
Follow the Flashes
For more information on the women's lacrosse team, follow Kent State Lacrosse on Twitter and Instagram and visit kentstatesports.com for additional updates.
