Kent State University
Indiana
Golden Flashes Set to Open Season in Weekend Contests
8/29/2024 11:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
KENT, Ohio β The Kent State field hockey team opens up the 2024 regular season this weekend with two contests set to take place at Murphy-Mellis Field. The Golden Flashes will face the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday at 11:00 a.m. before closing the weekend with a matchup against the Liberty Lady Flames on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
About the Flashes
Friday's match marks the first official contest under new head coach Heather Hefner, who joins the Flashes from Liberty, where she served as an assistant coach since 2018. At Liberty, Hefner played a key role in a period that included an NCAA title game appearance, three Big East regular season titles, and two Big East tournament championships. She takes over a Golden Flashes team that went 8-11 overall and 5-2 in MAC play in 2023, falling to Miami in the championship match of the MAC Tournament. Entering 2024, Kent State has been selected fourth in the MAC preseason coaches' poll, receiving one first-place vote and two votes to win the MAC tournament. A key returner for the Golden Flashes is midfielder Eva Usoz, who is back for her sophomore season after being honored with the MAC freshman of the year award and a first-team All-MAC selection in 2023. The Flashes roster also features five freshmen hoping to make an immediate impact, who will potentially make their collegiate debuts this weekend.
Scouting Indiana
Indiana is coming off a 2023 campaign that saw the Hoosiers post a 6-13 overall record. Back Sydney Keld and midfielder Inés Garcia Prado return for the Hoosiers after being named to the All-Big Ten second team last season.
Scouting No. 11 Liberty
Coach Hefner's former school enters the 2024 season ranked #11 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) preseason national coaches' poll. Additionally, Liberty has been picked first in the Big East preseason coaches' poll. The Lady Flames claimed a third consecutive Big East regular season title in 2023, posting a 17-3 overall record before falling to Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Championship.
The Series
Indiana leads the all-time series against the Flashes 5-4. The Hoosiers claimed a 3-2 victory in last season's matchup.
The Lady Flames opened the 2023 season with a 2-0 victory over the Flashes. Last season's win improved Liberty's record to 5-0 in the series.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow Kent State Field Hockey on X and Instagram for more news and information about the team throughout the 2024 season.
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