Kent State University
Duquesne
Soccer to Host Duquesne Sunday on Senior Day
9/8/2023 5:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's soccer team hosts Duquesne on Sunday, September 10, in its last game before Mid-American conference play begins. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Flashes (2-2-2) earned a 1-1 draw last Sunday against Arizona State to wrap up their three-game road trip.
The Flashes trailed heading into the halftime break, but the short reprieve from the desert sun put new life into the squad, who started the second half off with sweltering pace. In the 52nd minute, Alisa Arthur dribbled into the box and drew in both center backs, slipping a pass to the wide-open Alanna Raimondo, who fired a right-footer into the left half of the net for the equalizer.
Raimondo is now tied for the team lead in goals while Arthur boasts a team-best two assists.
FRESHMEN ON FIRE
The Golden Flashes' offensive attack is led by a pair of freshmen who have started their collegiate careers at a torrid pace. Josie Morgan and Alanna Raimondo are tied for the team lead in goals with two apiece through the first six games of the season. Morgan netted goals in her first two collegiate games while Raimondo has scored in two of her last three contests. The freshmen are tied for fourth in the MAC in goals and seventh in points.
GREAT GOALKEEPING
Sarah Melén tallied four saves in the first half of last Thursday's contest against Arizona. 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 fifth in program history in career shutouts (14) and sixth in wins (20). 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. Entering Week 4 of the season, Melén leads all MAC goalkeepers with 24 saves.
SCOUTING DUQUESNE
The Dukes (3-4-0) were picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches Poll, their highest ranking since 2018. Duquesne is coming off of a pair of shutout wins over Saint Francis and Farleigh Dickinson in their last two matches.
Maya Matesa, Jaimi Araujo and Brianna Moore lead the offensive attack for the Dukes, totaling 7 of the team's 10 goals scored. Morgan Kulniszewski leads the team with three assists on the season.
In goal, Maddy Neundorfer has started six games and tallied 24 saves, sporting a 1.75 goals against average.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's match marks the fourth-ever meeting between the Flashes and Dukes, with Kent State holding a 2-1 edge in the all-time series. The two squads last met in 2012, with Duquesne securing a 2-1 win over the Flashes.
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Kent State Soccer will be celebrating Senior Day on Sunday, honoring this year's senior class and their contributions to the program. The Senior Day ceremony will get underway just before kickoff.
UP NEXT
The Flashes will turn their attention towards MAC play and the conference opener against Ohio on September 24 in Athens. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 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, Instagramand Facebook.
