2023-10-06 20:00:55
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KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women’s soccer returns home to Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium on Sunday to host Central Michigan in a Mid-American Conference match. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on BoxCast with Matt Kiraly on the call.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Flashes (6-4-2, 3-2-0 MAC) fell 3-1 to Ball State on Thursday in a rainy contest in Muncie.
The Cardinals scored a pair of goals in the first half to jump out to an early lead, but Flashes came out of the locker room with renewed life and were able to keep possession in their attacking half. In the 66th minute, Alisa Arthur cut the lead in half with her fourth goal of the season. Arthur took the ball on the far side of field, juked out two Ball State defenders as she cut into the box, fired a shot that hit off the inside of the right post and into the back of the net.
Arthur leads the Flashes in goals and points (11) on the season and has scored at least a point in four of five MAC games.
The Flashes could not find the back of the net again despite the offensive intensity. With just minutes left in the game, Ball State added another goal to put the comeback effort out of reach.
CLEAN SWEEP
The Golden Flashes were the only squad in the Mid-American Conference to start conference play with a pair of wins. Alisa Arthur and Kelsey Salopek were instrumental in securing six points for Kent State and earned MAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively. Arthur scored the game-winner in Thursday’s game against Ohio, then netted the clutch equalizer against Akron on Sunday. Salopek played 81 minutes on the Flashes’ back line as Kent State opened conference play with a shutout win over the Bobcats. She then scored the game-winner against the Zips in spectacular fashion, shooting from 30 yards out. This marks Arthur’s first-ever MAC weekly award and Salopek’s second. The sophomore earned Offensive Player of the Week honors after the first weekend of conference play a season ago.
Sarah Melén earned Defensive Player of the Week honors in August following a 10-save performance against Pitt and a shutout win on the road at Cleveland State.
COMEBACK KIDS
With ten minutes left in the Wagon Wheel rivalry game against Akron, the Flashes found themselves down 1-0. Alisa Arthur scored the clutch equalizer in the 82nd minute, ripping the ball from the feet of a Zips defender and finding nothing but space in front of her after juking out the Akron keeper. Not settling for a draw, Kelsey Salopek called game just six minutes later. The sophomore intercepted a pass around midfield, dribbled twice, and fired a shot from 30 yards out that found the net just underneath the crossbar with two minutes left on the clock. Thanks to the furious comeback effort, the Flashes have now won 13 out of the last 14 games against Akron. Next time out against Eastern Michigan, a 90th minute goal from Abby Breitschuh gave the Flashes a 2-1 win over the Eagles.
SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHGAN
The Chippewas (2-4-4, 1-3-1 MAC) has opened up the MAC slate with a 1-3-1 record, their lone win coming against Miami in the opening weekend of conference play. The Chippewas sport a 1-2-2 record away from home this season.
Jenna Little and Claudia Muessig lead the CMU offensive attack and are the only team members to score multiple goals on the year. Little leads the team and is tied for the fourth-most goals in the conference with five so far this year while Muessig has netted three goals and added an assist.
Allison LaPoint has handled the majority of the goalkeeping duties for CMU, starting 9 of 10 games. LaPoint leads the conference in saves per game (5.33) and sits in a tie for fourth in saves (48). Her .787 save percentage is also the fourth-best in the conference.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State and Central Michigan will face off for the 28th time on Sunday. The Golden Flashes trail in the all-time series, 9-12-6, but the two squads have drawn with one another in the last three meetings.
Last season, Abby Breitschuh recorded her first collegiate point and assist as the Flashes drew even with Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, 2-2.
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Kent State Soccer will be celebrating the turn of the century as part of 2000’s Night at Dix Stadium. Be sure to arrive early because the first 150 fans can take home baby blue Kent State bucket hats.
UP NEXT
The Flashes will head to Bowling Green on Thursday for an important road matchup with the Falcons. Kickoff is set for 7 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, Instagram and Facebook.
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