Kent State couldn’t hold off Saint Francis University’s late offensive surge as the Flashes lost, 13-9. The Red Flashes was quick to attack Wednesday with the team’s first goal coming in the fourth minute. Kent State’s offense answered three minutes later on a goal by Megan Kozar, assisted by Abby Jones.

The Red Flashes and Flashes went back-to-back all afternoon. Kent regained the lead with a goal by Lluna Katz and was assisted by Graceyn Dean, but Saint Francis retaliated a couple minutes later. Both teams defensive efforts held each other off to only four goals each in the first half.

With a back and forth game, the Flashes scored the first goal in the second half, but Kent’s defense began to struggle. In the 11th minute, the Red Flashes scored three goals, two from Livia Baker and one from Shea Moran.

“I think we played a lot more consistently the first half. There was about a six to 10 minute period in the second half where we sort of let them get on a run and get some momentum and, I think we played well for the most part, but we kind of broke down for a little bit of the second half and ran out of steam to come back from it,” said coach Brianne Tierney.

The Flashes defense couldn’t hold off Saint Francis as the Red Flashes two more goals from Emileigh Scott and Amanda Heidt.

Jones lead Kent State with four goals, Kozar with three, and Katz and Nikolai scored one each. Goalie Grace Merrill had 19 saves on the day after facing 32 shots on goal. Saint Francis won the draw controls with 14 to six.

“She has some beautiful goals today,” Tierney said of Jones. “I think in particular in the last minute or two, she kind of, took control, and just buckled down and was like ‘I’m going to get a goal’; really found a breakdown in their defense. She beat one person and nobody was really fighting her.”

The Red Flashes rounded out the game with a goal by Scott and Baker. Jones scored back-to-back goals in the last three minutes of the game.

The Flashes next game will be Friday March 22 at Dix Stadium. Kent will face off Gardner-Webb at 3p.m.

Amanda Levine is a sports reporter. Contact her at [email protected].