Kent State University
Akron
Flashes Set to Host Akron on Sunday
9/23/2023 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's soccer team will look to build off of Thursday's win when it hosts Akron at Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Flashes (4-2-2) opened the conference portion of their schedule with a 1-0 shutout win on the road against Ohio.
Alisa Arthur gave Kent State the early advantage, scoring her second goal of the season in only the 10th minute. Kelsey Salopek gained control of an Ohio clearance and found Siena Stambolich in the Flashes' attacking half, who turned and sent a pass over to Arthur on the right side of the 18-yard box. A stellar dribble move put space between her and the defender, and Arthur tucked the ball past the Ohio keeper to give the Flashes the early lead.
Kent State remained in control for much of the game but could not find another goal to extend the lead. The Bobcats were able to retain possession late in the half but a number of stellar defensive plays kept the offense at bay. Ohio did not get a shot on goal until the 86th minute, which Sarah Melén knocked away with a diving save to her left.
GREAT GOALKEEPING
Sarah Melén tallied four saves in the first half against Arizona earlier this month. Those stops brought her career total to 200, making her just the sixth goalkeeper in program history to tally 200 or more saves as a Golden Flash. The graduate student currently sits tied for fourth in program history in career shutouts (15) and fifth in wins (22) following the shutout win over Ohio on Thursday. Melén was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 29 following two stellar games in goal, including a 10-save performance against Pitt and a shutout victory over Cleveland State. Melén enters Sunday with 30 saves on the season, the fourth-highest total in the MAC.
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips (2-6-0) have dropped six of their last seven matches in head coach Jen Simonetti's second year at the helm of the program. Akron dropped its MAC opener to Buffalo on Thursday night, falling 2-0.
Emma King, Morgan Pentz and Katie Stafford lead the Zips' offensive attack and are the only three Akron players to score multiple goals on the year. King earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Tuesday after netting the game-winner against Niagara.
Sara Bower has played and started in six games in goal so far this season. The freshman has tallied 27 saves so far on the year and sports a .659 save percentage. Bower earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Tuesday following a five-save performance in the Zips' shutout win over Niagara last week.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State and Akron will face off for the 24th time ever on Thursday to open up Mid-American Conference play. The Golden Flashes have a commanding 19-4-0 edge in the all-time series and have won 12 out of the last 13 matchups against the Zips, including the previous two.
Last year, Kent State beat the Zips 2-0 to wrap up a perfect opening weekend in conference play. Siena Stambolich scored her first goal of the season to give the Flashes the early lead and Kelsey Salopek netted her third goal of the weekend in the second half to put the game out of reach. Salopek earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors following her stellar play to start the conference slate and Dalaney Ranallo was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week following the shutout.
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
To show that "Our Gold is Greater," fans are encouraged to wear their favorite Kent State gold attire as part of a gold out. Sunday's game is also part of Kent State Athletics and the Kent State University's FlaSHEs Will Weekend. FlaSHEs Will events aim to get girls and women from the surrounding communities of Kent involved in athletics while also supporting Kent State female athletes throughout their competitive seasons each year. For more information on gameday promotions, click here.
UP NEXT
The Flashes will host Eastern Michigan on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium. The theme of the game will be Rock 'n Roll Night.
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.
