Penguins Blank Flashes in Physical Battle

Thursday, September 8

Youngstown, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

Kent State University

0-4-2, 0-0-0

Youngstown State

2-4-1, 0-0-0

Kent St.

Youngstown St.

Photo by: David Dermer

9/8/2022 9:20:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Kent State soccer team fell to Youngstown State 1-0 on Thursday, as the Golden Flashes battled closely with the Penguins all night but failed to register a second-half equalizer.

The Flashes fall to 0-4-2 through the first six games of the 2022 season and come up short for the first time since 1997 against Youngstown State. The Penguins finish the nonconference portion of their schedule with a 2-4-1 record and have pulled off two consecutive one-score victories.

KSU and YSU traded possessions throughout the first half as both sides found ways to generate solid scoring chances, but defense won out as the halftime whistle blew with the score still 0-0.

In the second half, the Flashes' offensive attack came out strong, creating a number of chances off of strong runs and set pieces, but they could not find a way into the back of the net. In the 72nd minute, Youngstown State scored off of a corner kick to take the lead as the ball slipped between two Kent State defenders in front of goal. The Flashes were unable to equalize in the final minutes, as redshirt senior defender Tianna Harris and sophomore midfielder Alisa Arthur both had threatening shots knocked away.

Harris led the way in the box score for Kent State with two shots on goal, while six other Flashes put shots on net that were saved by last week's Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week Brooklyn Kirkpatrick. Kent State had the edge against the Penguins in terms of shots (10-5) and shots on goal (8-2) but could not find the back of the net. The two squads were even with three corner kicks apiece.

The Flashes will wrap up their five-game road trip on Sunday, Sept. 11, when they head west to Columbus to take on Ohio State. Kent State is 0-5-1 all time against the Buckeyes, with the two teams having last met in 2018 when Ohio State used their home field to their advantage in a 3-0 victory.

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.