Four Flashes Named to All-Ohio Teams
1/22/2024 6:09:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – Four student-athletes from the Kent State women's soccer program have been recognized by the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association as the organization announced its yearly awards on Monday.
Both Alisa Arthur and Kelsey Salopek earned First Team All-Ohio, while Arthur also secured a spot on the Academic All-Ohio First Team. Giulia Giovinazzi and Sarah Melén both were named Second Team Academic All-Ohio.Â
Arthur had a breakout season for Kent State, leading the Golden Flashes in goals (10), assists (6), points (26), shots (61), and shots on goal (32). Her six game-winning goals tied for the second-most in a single season and program history and are the sixth-most in the country this season. Arthur earned First Team All-MAC, USC Third Team All-Midwest Region, and MAC All-Tournament Team honors for the first time in her career this season. The junior also earned spots on the Academic All-MAC and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team and was named MAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week following the MAC Tournament.
After tying for the team lead in goals as a freshman playing in the midfield, Salopek played an integral role in the Flashes' four shutout wins this fall and earned First Team All-Mid-American Conference and USC Third Team All-Midwest Region honors after starting all 21 games at left back. The highlight of the sophomore's season came in the rivalry game versus Akron when Salopek intercepted an attempted clearance and scored a highlight-reel goal from 30 yards out in the 88th minute. She earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors following the opening weekend of conference play and was named Academic All-MAC.
Giovinazzi played and started all 21 games for the Flashes after missing most of the 2022 campaign due to injury. The senior scored her lone goal of the season on a penalty kick against NIU and tallied an assist on the game-winning goal against Buffalo to secure home field advantage for Kent State in the opening round of the MAC Tournament. Giovinazzi was also named to the Academic All-MAC and College Sport Communicators Academic All-District teams.
Melén was the last line of defense for the Flashes all season, starting all 21 games. The graduate student recorded 102 saves and posted career-bests in both save percentage (.810) and goals against average (1.16). Melén made a season-high 10 saves against Pitt and was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week for her effort, but her most impressive performance of the season came when she kept a clean sheet against Bowling Green after facing a season-high 27 shots. She ends her career at Kent State with the second-most minutes played (5,932), tied for the second-most shutouts (17), third-most saves (279), and fourth-most wins (30) in program history. Melén was also named to the Academic All-MAC and College Sport Communicators Academic All-District teams.
The OCSA is one of the oldest state Collegiate Coaching Associations in the US. The association was formed in 1953 and was significantly responsible for the growth, development and organization of collegiate soccer in Ohio.  In the early days the OCSA was the responsible for coaching education, referee development and training and a very effective network for coaches to arrange games and refereeing assignments. Another major activity of the association was the development of an awards program for players and coaches. The OCSA has annually recognized over 300 student athletes and coaches.
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