Kent State University
Indiana
Field Hockey 2022 Season Kicks Off at Hoosier Invitational
8/25/2022 4:02:00 PM | Field Hockey
The Kent State Field Hockey team kicks off the 2022 season this weekend at the Hoosier Invitational. On Friday, the Golden Flashes face off against Indiana and on Saturday they take on No. 6 Liberty. Both games begin at 12 p.m.
Led by fourth-year head coach Kyle DeSandes-Moyer, Kent Sttae enters with a veteran unit that is highlighted by senior Maria Cambra Soler, an All-MAC First Team performer in 2021. Cambra Soler is joined by senior Sydney Washburn and juniors Danielle Hamm, Alex Sacker, Victoria Tinghitella and Katie Wuerstle to give the Golden Flashes six returners who started all 18 games a season ago.
The Flashes claimed a share of the regular season conference title for the second time over the past three years in 2021. The Flashes entered the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll for the first time since 2010 following wins over No. 22 Ohio State and No. 14 Syracuse in early September. Kent State remained in the Top-25 for eight weeks, peaking at the No. 22 spot.
Scouting Indiana
The Hoosiers finished the 2021 season with a 10-10 overall record. Forward Jemima Cookson, back Sydney Keld, and defender Yip van Wonderen were designated as Indiana's three members of the Big Ten's Preseason Players To Watch List. Keld is the leading returning scorer with 11 points on three goals and five assists.
Indiana defeated Mid-American Conference member Ball State, 3-0, in an exhibition contest last Friday.
Scouting No. 6 Liberty
After falling in the 2021 national championship game to Northwestern, 2-0, the Flames enter the 2022 campaign at the No. 6 spot in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history. The BIG EAST champions posted a 20-3 record while leading the country in scoring at 3.38 goals per game.
Liberty returns five all-conference selections from a year ago, led by All-Americans Azul Iritxity Irigoyen and Daniella Rhodes. Rhodes was tabbed this year's Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, and Iritxity Irigoyen was named to the preseason all-conference team. Bethany Dykema garnered Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Series History
Kent State is 3-4 all-time against Indiana, including a 1-2 record in trips to Bloomington. The Flashes have won two straight in the series, however. Maria Cambra Soler tied it in the 59th minute and Clara Rodriguez Seto scored the winner during the fifth minute of overtime for a thrilling 2-1 victory in Kent last season. Kent State scored three goals in the first 11 minutes in a dominant 5-1 win in its last visit to IU Field Hockey Complex.
The Flashes are 0-3 in matchups with Liberty, including 2-1 losses in 2018 and 2021.
Up Next
Kent State will be back home the following weekend for their Home Opener at Murphy-Mellis Field on Friday Sept. 2 at 12 p.m. against Syracuse. On Sunday Sept. 4, the Flashes take on Bucknell University at 12 p.m.
