Kent State University
Central Michigan
Lacrosse Hosts Central Michigan on Senior Day
4/15/2022 11:42:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
KENT, Ohio - The Kent State lacrosse team will play host to Central Michigan at 1 p.m. on Saturday for Senior Day at Dix Stadium.
About the Golden Flashes
Kent State comes into Saturday's contest sporting a 5-9 record. With a win against Central Michigan, the 2022 Golden Flashes would take sole possession of the most wins in a season in the team's short history. Kent State's growth is thanks in large part to the coming-of-age of many of the team's star players from past seasons. Veterans like Abby Jones and Megan Kozar have been a part of Kent State lacrosse since its inception and have helped set a good example for the younger players. Jones has arguably turned in her best all-around career performance this year, putting up 27 points on 16 goals and 11 assists and accumulating 44 draw controls. The same can be said for Kozar, who also has 27 points this season, thanks to 24 goals and three assists.
This will more than likely be the final home game for Jones, Kozar, and 10 additional Flashes who are set to depart at the end of the season, marking the end of an era and an unofficial passing of the torch to the underclassmen of the team. But with players like sophomore Jackie Wolford and junior Kenzie Sklar set to return next year, the future of Kent State lacrosse is bright.
Wolford, the Columbus, Ohio native, is fourth in the Mid-American Conference in goals with 35 in 14 games played, for an average of 2.50 goals scored per game. Sklar isn't far behind, as the Galena, Ohio product sits in 10th place in the conference in goals with 27 despite only starting six games this season.
In their most recent game at Robert Morris last Saturday, the Flashes put up a valiant effort in a 15-6 loss to the top-ranked Colonials. That put Kent State at 2-5 within the MAC, which is one game better than Akron and Detroit Mercy and good enough for fourth place and the final postseason spot if the season ended today. With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Flashes essentially control their own destiny. No matter what the two teams below them do from here on out, Kent State will still clinch a playoff berth if they win all three of their remaining games. Their road matchup against Detroit Mercy for the season finale on April 30 could prove to be pivotal depending on how the rest of the games shake out.
About the Chippewas
Central Michigan is in a much more enviable position in the MAC standings, as their 5-1 conference record places them only one loss off the pace of 7-0 Robert Morris for the chance at the number-one seed and the opportunity to host the MAC tournament in Mount Pleasant. And they've earned that right, thanks to solid play all season and a near-spotless record of 4-1 at home.
One of those home victories came against Kent State on March 10, when Flashes fell to Central Michigan, 20-6. A heavy dose of pure offensive power would have overwhelmed even the best of teams, with the Chippewas going on two separate 6-0 scoring runs in the game. The leading scorer for Central in that game was Hannah Potter, who scored five times.
Surprisingly though, Potter is not one of Central Michigan's leading scorers, as her five against Kent State equate to nearly half of her 11 on the season. Instead, that honor of most goals scored on the Chippewas goes to Maggie Diebold, whose 44 ranks second in the MAC. Central Michigan's Audrey Whiteside also ranks second in the conference in assists with 26.
Kent State will be seeking their first ever victory against the Chippewas on Saturday.
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.
