Kent State University
Lafayette
Kent State to Play Lafayette and VCU in Opening Weekend Series in Illinois
8/27/2026 7:24:00 PM | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Golden Flashes' Field Hockey team will travel west to Evanston, Ill. this weekend to take on Lafayette and VCU in a neutral-site showdown.
Northwestern University will be hosting both games at Lakeside Field. Kent State will face Lafayette on Friday, Aug. 28 at 3:30 pm for both teams' first games of the year. Later, the Golden Flashes will play VCU on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 2:30 pm.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes are coming off a solid 5-1 victory in an exhibition game against Slippery Rock last Sunday. Kent State senior forward Maybritt Duwel scored a hat trick of goals in the contest and will surely be looking to continue her success into the start of the regular season.
KSU brings five freshman and four incoming transfers into the program this season, including three from Coach Hefner's former coaching stint, Liberty University. One of these newcomers, fifth-year goalkeeper Michaela Skinner, will look to bring the defensive presence needed to start the year off strong.
Lafayette Scouting Report
The Leopards are KSU's first regular season opponent of the season and are coming off a very solid year in the Patriot League. Lafayette went 12-7 overall with a 5-1 conference record in 2025, ending the season as the Patriot League Tournament runners-up.
Defender Katie Gibb will be someone to watch out for on the Leopards' roster. The senior from Vancouver, B.C. scored five goals while notching 11 assists and 21 points last year.
Lafayette played one MAC opponent last season, Longwood, shutting out the Lancers 6-0 in early September.
VCU Scouting Report
VCU is also coming off a strong season, going 13-5 with a 5-1 record in the A-10 in 2025. The Rams won a share of the A-10 Conference regular season title before losing in the conference tournament in double overtime to Saint Joseph's.
VCU is fairly familiar against MAC opponents, beating Ball State and Central Michigan last year and then facing James Madison and Longwood in exhibition matchups earlier this season. The Rams will be playing the top-ranked reigning national champion Northwestern Wildcats on Friday before their contest against the Golden Flashes.
Sophomore Lina Behrmann is a threat for VCU, ranking eighth nationally last season in assists per game. Redshirt Junior goalkeeper Emma Clements also provides consistently good defense in the net. Both players were named to the 2026 D1 NFHCA Preseason Watch List.
Series History
Kent State has never played Lafayette but they are 1-1 against VCU all-time. The Golden Flashes first beat the rams 4-3 in 2015, but lost most recently 0-1 in 2023.
Up Next
Kent State will stay in the Midwest next week as they travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. to play the 14th-ranked Michigan Wolverines on Friday, Sept. 4 at 5pm. KSU will also face Vermont on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2pm in Ann Arbor.
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