Kent State University
James Madison
Soccer to Kick Off Road Trip Against James Madison
8/28/2024 2:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Kent, Ohio- The Kent State soccer team hits the road to kick off their five-game road trip against the James Madison Dukes on Thursday, Aug 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes were firing on all cylinders on Sunday as the beat Oakland 4-0 at Dix Stadium.
Sam Miller scored the first goal of the day for the Flashes, receiving a cross from Alanna Raimondo and flicked it over the goalkeeper to put it in the back of the net.
Ava Todd scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the 50th minute to extend the lead. Alisa Arthur fired in a cross from a corner kick that found the head of Todd who put it past the keeper into the net.
Arthur scored her first goal of the season in style, the junior took a free kick from 23 yards out, striking the ball with her powerful right foot and curled it into the side netting of the far post.
Raimondo also got in on the scoring in the 69th minute. Mary Kate Lape played a perfect through ball up to Raimondo who placed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
Rising in the Record Book
Arthur is rising in the record book in several categories for the Flashes. Arthur is knocking on the door of top ten all-time goals (17 currently), assists (14 currently), and points (48 currently).
The Team
Coach Rob Marinaro will bring back of their 11 starters and including 84% of their goals and 75% of their assists from last year. The midfield trio of Arthur, Raimondo, and Siena Stambolich all return to propel the offensive attack with the forwards Morgan and Mary Kate Lape.
Salopek, Ava Todd, and Joey Skillen return to form a defensive wall in front of goalkeeper Heidi Marshall.
The Flashes also welcome ten newcomers to campus, 7 freshman and 3 transfers. Emma Klain, Samantha Miller (Michigan State), Thea Helen Oberhoff (Daytona State), Addy Cusick, Jules Dolinski, Allison Burkey, Kate Thill (Bridgeport), Ali Weibel, Ava Lukyan, and Katie Henahan will all look to make an immediate impact on the field.
Scouting James Madison
James Madison was picked second in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches' Poll receiving 177 points and three first place votes, which is only behind Old Dominion who received 181 points and seven first place votes. The Dukes are coming off a week that saw them draw with La Salle at home Thursday night and a draw on the road at Maryland Sunday evening.
The Dukes offense is led by a pair of upperclassmen, Ariana Reyes and Sophia Verrecchia, who both have two goals on the season. Verrecchia earned Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week last week after recording five points while posting a goal and assist against La Salle and a game-tying goal against Maryland.
Series History
Thursday marks the first-ever meeting between Kent State and James Madison. This is also the Flashes' first meeting with a Sun Belt opponent since Marshall in 2013.
Follow the Flashes
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