Kent State University
Ball State
Soccer Set to Square Off with Ball State
10/4/2023 4:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's soccer team travels to Muncie on Thursday for a Mid-American Conference matchup with Ball State. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Flashes (6-3-2, 3-1-0 MAC) dropped their first game of the conference slate on Sunday, falling to Miami 1-0.
The Flashes' defense held the Miami offense in check in the first half, limiting the RedHawks to just two shots on goal. Offensively, the Flashes generated multiple strong scoring chances but could not find the go-ahead goal.
Miami scored in the 61st minute to take a 1-0 lead and the Flashes could not find the equalizer despite numerous good looks. Kent State generated 15 shots in the contest, putting six on goal.
COMEBACK KIDS
With ten minutes left in the Wagon Wheel rivalry game against Akron, the Flashes found themselves down 1-0. Alisa Arthur scored the clutch equalizer in the 82nd minute, ripping the ball from the feet of a Zips defender and finding nothing but space in front of her after juking out the Akron keeper. Not settling for a draw, Kelsey Salopek called game just six minutes later. The sophomore intercepted a pass around midfield, dribbled twice, and fired a shot from 30 yards out that found the net just underneath the crossbar with two minutes left on the clock. Thanks to the furious comeback effort, the Flashes have now won 13 out of the last 14 games against Akron. Next time out against Eastern Michigan, a 90th minute goal from Abby Breitschuh gave the Flashes a 2-1 win over the Eagles.
CLEAN SWEEP
The Golden Flashes were the only squad in the Mid-American Conference to start conference play with a pair of wins. Alisa Arthur and Kelsey Salopek were instrumental in securing six points for Kent State and earned MAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively. Arthur scored the game-winner in Thursday's game against Ohio, then netted the clutch equalizer against Akron on Sunday. Salopek played 81 minutes on the Flashes' back line as Kent State opened conference play with a shutout win over the Bobcats. She then scored the game-winner against the Zips in spectacular fashion, shooting from 30 yards out. This marks Arthur's first-ever MAC weekly award and Salopek's second. The sophomore earned Offensive Player of the Week honors after the first weekend of conference play a season ago.
Sarah Melén earned Defensive Player of the Week honors in August following a 10-save performance against Pitt and a shutout win on the road at Cleveland State.
SCOUTING BALL STATE
The Cardinals (4-5-2, 2-0-2 MAC) are unbeaten through two weeks of MAC play with wins over Miami and Toledo and draws with Eastern and Western Michigan. Ball State is a perfect 4-0-0 so far at home this year and sits second in the MAC with 18 goals scored on the year.
Avery Fenchel and Lexi Fraley pace the Ball State offensive attack. Fenchel is tied for second in the MAC in goals (6) and third in points (13) while Fraley sits atop the conference leaderboards in shots (38) and shots per game (3.45). Five different Cardinals have scored multiple goals this season.
Bethany Moser has played the majority of the minutes in goal, starting 11 games and tallying 45 saves with a 1.82 goals against average.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State and Miami will face off for the 27th time ever on Sunday. The Golden Flashes trail slightly in the all-time series, 11-12-3, but are 2-1-1 in the last seven meetings with the Cardinals. Last season, the two squads battled to a scoreless draw at Dix Stadium. The Flashes last beat Ball State in 2021 as Giulia Giovinazzi tallied two assists and Siena Stambolich added one of her own in a 3-0 victory.
UP NEXT
The Flashes return to Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 8, when they host Central Michigan as part of 2000's Night at 1 p.m. Fans can take home Kent State bucket hats.
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.
