Kent State University
6-11, 3-7MAC
Detroit Mercy
2-13, 2-8MAC
Flashes Advance to Postseason in Win Over Detroit Mercy
4/30/2022 7:10:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
BIRMINGHAM, Mich. - The Kent State lacrosse team took on Detroit Mercy on Saturday in their regular season finale, defeating the Titans, 16-15. The win served as the clinching victory for the Golden Flashes to secure a spot in the Mid-American Conference postseason tournament. It also gave the Flashes their most wins in a season in program history.
Coming into the game, Kent State and Detroit Mercy were tied for fourth place in the conference with each team holding a 2-7 record within the MAC. With only the top four teams making the playoffs, this meant that the winner of Saturday's game would claim the final postseason spot, while the loser's season would come to an end.
The Flashes certainly did their part to make sure that they would live to play another day, posting one of their best offensive scores of the season. This was led by sophomore Jackie Wolford, whose two goals in the game set a program record for goals in a season with 40 (she also had two assists for four total points). One of these goals came at a pivotal point in the game, giving Kent State a two-goal lead midway through the fourth quarter.
In a game as back-and-forth as this one was, with both sides fighting for their playoff lives, every goal scored had a magnified impact. Kent State got four goals from junior Madison Rapier, three from senior Megan Kozar, and three from junior Morgan Kubicki. Kubicki also had three assists for a total of six points. Just like Wolford, Kozar's last goal of the game occurred at an opportune moment as well, giving the Flashes an insurance goal with 3:51 left in the game and the Titans nipping at their heels.
Detroit Mercy would cut that lead back to one on a goal by Taryn McManus with 2:16 to go, but would not be able to overcome the Kent State defense and tie things back up before regulation ended. Despite winning for a solid stretch of this one, the Titans did not hold the lead as time expired. That honor belongs to Kent State, who came away with the well-deserved victory and now advance to their first ever playoff game.
That postseason game is set to take place on Thursday at 1 p.m., when the fourth-seeded Flashes travel to Mount Pleasant, Michigan to face off with the first-seeded and tournament host Central Michigan Chippewas. Stay tuned to kentstatesports.com for more information on that game in the days to come.
