Kent State University
Arizona State
Flashes Wrap Up Road Trip Against Arizona State on Sunday
9/2/2023 12:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's soccer team will wrap up its road trip out west on Sunday when they take on Arizona State at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. The match will kickoff at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on Pac-12 Arizona.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Flashes (2-2-1) lost 5-0 to Arizona on Thursday.
Kent State trailed 1-0 at the halftime break, but Arizona was able to score four more goals in the second half to put the game out of reach.
The Golden Flashes were only able to generate two shots against the Wildcats. Dalaney Ranallo and Tori Copfer pushed up from their spots in the Flashes' back line to try and find an offensive spark, but both attempts were turned away.
Sarah Melén tallied four saves in the first half of the contest, bringing her career total up to 200. Last week's Mid-American Conference Player of the Week is just the sixth goalkeeper in Kent State program history to record 200 or more saves.
GREAT GOALKEEPING
Sarah Melén was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday following two stellar games in goal for the Flashes. Melén had her strongest game in goal for the Flashes so far this season last Thursday night against Pitt. She faced a staggering 25 shots from the lightning-fast Pitt attack but stood tall, tallying a season-high 10 saves. It was the fourth double-digit save performance of her career. Against Cleveland State on Sunday, Melén earned her first shutout victory of the season, making three stops in a 2-0 Flashes win.
FRESHMAN ON FIRE
Josie Morgan has had a red-hot start to her career, scoring two goals in her first two collegiate games. Just 23 minutes into her Flashes debut, Morgan netted the first goal of the season for Kent State, taking a picturesque pass from Callie Cunningham and firing a strike past the Oakland keeper. Three days later, making her first start at Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium, Morgan scored her second of the season after Alisa Arthur drew in three Colgate defenders and found the wide-open freshman. Against Cleveland State on Sunday, Morgan tallied her first collegiate assist as the Flashes won 2-0.
Morgan leads the Flashes in goals and points (5) through four games this season.
SCOUTING ARIZONA STATE
The Sun Devils (3-0-2) have opened the 2023 season on a five-game unbeaten streak after being picked to finish seventh in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll. Arizona State is coming off of a scoreless draw against Boise State in the opening match of the Sun Devil Classic.
Enasia Colon leads the offensive attack for Arizona State, tallying four goals and an assist in five games so far. Suzuka Yosue sits second on the team in points (6) after scoring one goal and adding a team-high 4 assists. Pauline Nelles has played all 450 minutes in goal for Arizona, posting a .944 save percentage and tallying 19 saves, one of the highest totals in the Pac-12.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's match marks the first-ever meeting between the Flashes and Sun Devils. Kent State is 1-5 all-time against Pac-12 opponents.
UP NEXT
The Flashes will return home on Sunday, Sept.10, to host Duquesne at 1 p.m. Kent State Soccer will be honoring its senior class as part of Senior Day.
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.
