In the team’s first conference game of the season, the Kent State soccer team was unable to pull ahead over Toledo for the first 76 minutes of play Thursday.

The score was 0-0 before a ball hit the back of the net. The goal belonged to Kent State, giving the team the advantage late in a closely contested matchup.

The 77th minute goal started and ended the scoring for the game, propelling the Flashes to its first win in three matchups in a 1-0 victory.

“I thought we played really well,” coach Rob Marinaro said. “I’m really proud of the ladies yesterday because they really worked really hard, and they battled.” 

The deciding goal was scored by senior midfielder Siena Stambolich, who converted on her first goal of the season, with an assist from freshman forward Jules Dolinski and sophomore midfielder Alanna Raimondo.  

“We scored a very gritty goal, which was really nice because that’s really important for us,” Marinaro said. 

The Flashes are 4-2-1 on the season and 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference after Thursday’s game. The Rockets stand at 3-4-1 on the year and 0-1 in the conference.

“It was the first conference game, so there’s a lot of energy involved,” Marinaro said.

The breakdown

Dolinski led the Flashes with three shots at the goal, and seven shots in total for her new career high. 

The KSU defensemen, freshman Allison Collins, sophomore Ava Todd, freshman Ali Weibel, and junior Kelsey Salopek, had a strong game for the defense, holding the Toledo attack to six shots and only one shot on goal. 

“I thought the defense was excellent,” Marinaro said. “The entire team’s defense was really good. We were well organized and made their game pretty predictable, so we neutralized them to not get too many shots on goal.”

Stambolich scored the only goal for the team during the 77th minute. 

Last season, Stambolich started in all 21 games, and she tied for second on the team in points (12). 

This time around, Stambolich has started in five games and has connected for one goal and one assist.

She is tied for second on the team in shots on goal percentage, and she is fifth on the team in total shots on goal taken.

Senior goalkeeper Heidi Marshall had her second shutout of the season and her career.

Marshall has been elite in goal for the Flashes this season, as she is posting a 1.73 goals against average on 17 saves with a 4-2 record to show for it.

Against Toledo, Marshall only had to make one save for her shutout.

Todd got a yellow card in the second period, and Kent State held the advantage in shots (18-6) and shots on goal (8-1). 

“We were aggressive, but I didn’t think that we were overly aggressive,” Marinaro said. “I thought we were just right. We made some good decisions, and that’s why I think things came out positively.”

 Up next 

Kent State will take the field Sunday, when the team plays Ball State University to continue MAC play.

The Cardinals are 5-3 overall, and 0-1 in the conference, and BSU has won four of its last five games.

Kent State lost 3-1 the last time the team played Ball State. 

“We need to play our style, and we need to attack out of possession,” Marinaro said. “We need to neutralize their opportunities by playing predictable.”

Emily Lowen is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].