Salopek Scores Twice, Leads Flashes to Win Over Ohio

Thursday, September 22

Kent, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

Kent State University

1-5-2, 1-0-0

Ohio

4-3-1, 0-1-0

Ohio

Kent St.

Salopek Scores Twice, Leads Flashes to Win Over Ohio

9/22/2022 9:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – Freshman phenom Kelsey Salopek tallied her first career goal and first career brace on Thursday night as the Kent State soccer team won its first game of the season, beating Ohio 2-0 at Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium.

The Golden Flashes (1-5-2, 1-0) kicked off Mid-American Conference play with the win, while Ohio (4-3-1, 0-1) walks away with the loss after winning four of its last five matches.

Both teams came out of the gate refusing to lose. Ohio controlled possession for the first ten minutes, but then a fire was lit under the Golden Flashes and the tides began to change. Kent State started pressuring the Bobcats' back line more and more as the first half wore on. In the 33rd minute, junior Dalaney Ranallo sent a free kick into the box and found Salopek, who buried the ball into the back of the net for her first collegiate goal. The Flashes kept the 1-0 advantage going into the halftime break.

The Flashes picked up right where they left off in the second half, countering every Ohio attack with their own and matching the Bobcats' physicality. In the 50th minute, Salopek headed the ball past the Ohio keeper for her second goal of the night, this time off an assist from junior Callie Cunningham.

With a 2-0 lead, the Kent State defense went into overdrive and kept the Bobcats' attack at bay until the final whistle.

Freshman Mary Kate Lape led the Violets with three shots on the night (one on goal), followed by Salopek, who scored on both of her shot attempts.

Senior Sarah Melén recorded her tenth career shutout with the win, the seventh-most in program history. Melén tallied five saves on the night.

The Flashes will make the short trip north on Sunday, Sept. 25, to take on Akron (1-3-2, 0-1) in the latest entry of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge. The Flashes topped the Zips 1-0 last season and have won 11 of the last 12 matchups.

For more information on the Kent State soccer team, follow Kent State Soccer on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and visit kentstatesports.com for additional information.