Senior midfielder Agustina Florio, on top of her goal in the second quarter, provided the Kent State field hockey team with a 4-3 victory when she scored the game-winning shootout goal against the Michigan State Spartans Sunday.
“Our team mantra this year is ‘every piece,’” coach Heather Hefner said. “So what we challenged the group with was, ‘How can you be the best version of yourself in whatever role you’re given today?’ If that’s a starter, if that’s someone that is supporting on the sideline, if that’s someone who gets some minutes, someone that’s goalkeeper, defender, it’s how you can be the best version of yourself in that role and that’s why we had success.”
The Flashes needed each and every one of their players to grab the win against the Spartans.
Florio’s go-ahead goal in the second quarter (No. 3 on the season) to put KSU up 3-2 was set up by Kent State’s two first quarter goals, which were scored by junior forward Emma Rolston (No. 2 on the season) and sophomore forward Maybritt Duwel (No. 1 on the season).
In the shootout, the Flashes found the back of the net with Rolston, junior forward Emma Seger and the winner from Florio. This gave the Flashes the point they needed in the 3-3 tie entering the shootout.
Freshman goalkeeper Lieve Jansen had seven saves in the game and denied the three attempts from MSU in the shootout, and the Flashes shut the Spartans out 3-0 in the shootout portion.
“It was really a group effort,” Hefner said. “Lieve was incredible in goal and saved a lot of shots. Our defenders, and everyone that was playing defense, were diving and laying their hearts out on the field to make sure that ball didn’t go in the back of the net.”
The Flashes yielded a goal to the Spartans in the opening 16 seconds of the game, giving them a 1-0 lead. In the final minute and a half of the game, the Flashes conceded another goal, tying the game 3-3 and setting up overtime.
Kent State showed great fight to come back and ultimately come out with the win.
“I’m really proud of our group,” Hefner said. “They were super resilient, and for us to come back from that and come out with a win is awesome.”
The road win against Michigan State was the Flashes first win against a non-conference opponent this season. MSU, from the Big Ten conference, dropped to 6-5, and Kent State improved to 3-8. Kent State is still 2-1 in Mid-American Conference play.
“The biggest thing for us is seeing we can play a full game with overtimes and a shootout and come out with a win,” Hefner said. “One thing we’ve struggled with this year is playing a full 60 minutes, and for our girls to do that and then some, it gives us a lot more confidence.”
Kent State suffered a 1-0 loss against MAC-opponent Appalachian State Friday, so going into the game against MSU, it made some key changes.
“We made a couple positional switches, which allowed for a few players to play more to their strengths,” Hefner said. “For instance, we put Emma Rolston at forward, and the first goal of the game, she picks it off on the press and goes into the circle and scores a goal, and that hasn’t been something she’s been able to do with the position we had her at.”
KSU has had three nail-biting wins in its last five games. The Flashes’ two prior wins came with one-goal victories.
“It’s a tough thing when games are that close and you don’t want to lose, but you can’t play like you don’t want to lose,” Hefner said. “You have to keep putting your foot on the gas and manage the game well– that’s what our group really did against Michigan State, and it was the most composed our team has been.”
The road ahead
Kent State will be challenged this weekend, taking on the James Madison University Dukes Friday and the Ohio State University Buckeyes Sunday, with both games in enemy territory.
James Madison is off to a scorching 8-2 start and is 3-0 against the MAC. The Flashes are right behind JMU in the MAC standings at 2-1.
Ohio State is a perfect 5-0 at home and 9-1 overall. It’s ranked No. 3 in the NCAA D1 field hockey rankings.
“There’s going to be some good battles this weekend,” Hefner said. “Both JMU and Ohio State are also gritty, so it’s all about who can win that grit battle. At the end of the day, you can’t really control whether you win or lose, but you can control how you show that relentlessness.”
After its win over Michigan State, KSU knows it has the grit in them to be successful.
“That energy that we had against Michigan State is what we need to see on Friday, Sunday and against our upcoming opponents,” Hefner said.
The Flashes look to work hard in the week ahead of their games.
“We want to continue to refine our counterattack,” Hefner said. “When we come up with the ball and are attacking the other way, we need to capitalize on those moments and continue to grow there.”
Andrew Gold is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
