Kent State University
Ohio
Soccer Set to Battle for MAC Championship on Sunday
11/4/2023 2:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – For the second time in three seasons, the Kent State soccer team will play in the Mid-American Conference Championship. The fourth-seeded Golden Flashes will face off with No. 6 Ohio at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, for a chance to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Kent State is seeking its second championship title under Head Coach Rob Marinaro while Ohio is looking for its first MAC title in program history. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. will be streamed live on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
The Flashes (12-6-2, 7-4-0 MAC) handed Western Michigan its first loss of the conference season in the semifinal match on Thursday, winning 2-1.
Kent State's defense was able to fend off the aggressive offensive attack early and turn defense into offense. Mary Kate Lape sent a stellar cross in from the far side of the field and found Alisa Arthur with space inside the box. Arthur did what she does best and hammered home the game's first goal in the 28th minute.
Just minutes later, the Flashes struck again. Callie Cunningham got the ball inside the box after Josie Morgan forced a defensive error and fired a one-timer off the outside of her foot and past the diving keeper. The score – Cunningham's second of the season – took the wind out of the sails of Western Michigan and the Flashes went into the break up by two scores.
The Broncos, 45 minutes away from their first loss to a MAC foe, upped the intensity on their attack. But time and time again, the Flashes' defense came out on top. Ava Todd and Abby Breitschuh had massive individual defensive stops throughout the half while Dalaney Ranallo and Kelsey Salopek made attacking from the wings incredibly challenging. In goal, Sarah Melén made several spectacular saves to keep the WMU attack at bay, finishing with seven for the match.
Western was able to get one goal back in the 85th minute and continued to push the attack forward. Melén came up clutch in the 88th minute, diving to her right to save a threatening header off of the Broncos' 13th corner kick of the game. The Flashes' defense stood strong in the final two minutes, securing a spot in the Mid-American Conference Championship game for the second time in the last three seasons.
FAMILIAR GROUND
Sunday marks Kent State's 17th appearance in the Mid-American Conference Tournament and the first since 2021. The Flashes sport a 11-13-5 record all-time in the conference tournament and are 2-3 when games go to penalty kicks. Under Coach Marinaro, the Flashes are 1-2 in championship games with the program's lone conference title coming in 2016.
The Flashes and Bobcats have squared off five times in postseason play. Ohio won the first two matchups before Kent State could get past the Bobcats, winning 4-2 on penalty kicks in 2017. The two sides have split the last two games, with Kent State earning a 3-2 win in the last meeting in the 2021 semifinals.
QUEENS OF THE CASTLE
Four members of the Golden Flashes earned yearly honors from the Mid-American Conference on Tuesday. Kelsey Salopek and Alisa Arthur each were named First Team All-MAC for the first time in their careers, though both earned All-Freshman honors during their first season in Kent. Two current freshmen - Alanna Raimondo and Josie Morgan - were named to the MAC All-Freshman team.
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats (8-7-5, 4-4-3 MAC) have gotten hot at the right part of the season, winning their last four games.
Shae Robertson will look to pace the Ohio offensive attack. Robertson led the Bobcats with eight goals on the season and earned All-MAC Second Team honors. Quitin Tostevin will serve as the anchor in Ohio's defensive line. The All-MAC Second Team selection played a crucial role in both of Ohio's wins so far in the MAC Tournament, shutting out Ball State and holding Bowling Green to just one score.
Celeste Sloma has played and started every game this season for Head Coach Aaron Rodger's squad, also earning a spot on the All-MAC Second Team. Sloma has tallied 81 saves and seven shutouts this season, sporting a .818 save percentage and 0.90 goals against average.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State and Ohio will battle for the 2023 Mid-American Conference Championship on Sunday in the 35th-ever meeting between the two squads. The Golden Flashes hold a 17-14-3 advantage in the all-time series and have have won the last three games in the series. Kent State opened conference play this season with a 1-0 win over the intrastate rival.
UP NEXT
The winner of Sunday's championship will await their NCAA Tournament opponent, which will be announced during the selection show on Monday, Nov. 6. The first round gets underway on Friday, Nov. 10.
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.
