Kent State University
Bowling Green
Flashes Ready to Face Bowling Green on Thursday
10/12/2023 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's soccer team is set to face Bowling Green is a heavyweight battle between two teams near the top of the Mid-American Conference table on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will air on YouTube.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Flashes (7-4-2, 4-2-0 MAC) were firing on all cylinders on Sunday as they beat Central Michigan 3-1 at Dix Stadium.
Alisa Arthur scored the first goal of the day for the Flashes, sending a free kick from just outside the box curling inside the left post. Arthur leads Kent State in goals (5) and points (13) this season.
Emma Barnett scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the 59th minute to extend the lead. Alanna Raimondo found Barnett in the right side of the box, who fired a shot that bounced off the right hand of the Central Michigan keeper, off the left post, and across the goal line. Raimondo's assist is also the first of her Kent State career.
Josie Morgan delivered the backbreaker in the 78th minute, scoring the Flashes' first penalty kick goal of the year. Morgan currently sits in second on the squad in goals (4) and points (9).
QUEEN ARTHUR
Alisa Arthur has had a stellar junior campaign for the Golden Flashes. Arthur leads the team in goals (5), points (13), shots (40), shots on goal (19), and game-winning goals (2) on the year and is tied for second on the squad in assists (2). She has scored points in five of six MAC games so far, netting goals in four of those. This past weekend, Arthur scored a goal in both games, the second time this season she has scored in back-to-back matchups.
RISING IN THE RECORD BOOK
Sarah Melén has been electric in goal for the Flashes throughout her career in Kent and that has continued this year. Melén's 57 saves on the season are the second-most in the MAC and her .792 save percentage is the fourth-highest in the conference. With Sunday's 3-1 route over Central Michigan, Melén became just the fifth keeper in program history to tally 25 wins. She has saved 234 shots in her career, the fourth-most in program history, and her 15 career shutouts are tied for the fourth-most all time at Kent State.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
The Falcons (7-4-1, 5-0-1 MAC) currently sit atop the MAC standings and are winners of four straight, including a 3-2 victory over Eastern Michigan on Sunday. Bowling Green has also made use of its home field advantage, sporting a 3-1-1 record on home turf. The Falcons are tied for the fourth-most goals in the conference (17) as well as the third-most shutouts (5).
Bryn Gardner and Ellie Pool pace the BG offensive attack as the only team members with double-digit points. Both have scored a team-high 4 goals, while Gardner has tallied 3 assists compared to Pool's 2. Five Falcons have scored multiple goals on the season.
Lili Berg and Madison Vukas have split time evenly in goal, each playing 540 minutes in six starts. Vukas leads the squad 27 saves and a 1.17 goals against average en route to 5 wins.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State and Bowling Green will face off for the 32nd time on Thursday night. The Golden Flashes trail in the all-time series, 8-18-5, but won last year's matchup 1-0 at Dix Stadium. Siena Stambolich assisted on the game-winner in last season's contest.
UP NEXT
The Flashes return home after Thursday's match to host their last regular-season home games of the season. On Sunday, Oct. 15, Kent State hosts Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. Then on Thursday, Oct. 19, the Flashes will take on Western Michigan at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
For more news and information about the team throughout the 2023 season, be sure to follow the Flashes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
