The deficit was large.
The score was 3-0 going into the final quarter for the Kent State field hockey team, and a loss would boot the Flashes out of the Mid-American Conference playoffs.
In the semifinals game, James Madison was able to finesse three balls past freshman goalkeeper Lieve Jansen – twice in the first quarter and once in the third quarter.
With nearly seven minutes left in the do-or-die game, the Flashes started to turn up the heat on the Dukes.
Senior forward Madison Leety converted on her first goal of the season to cut into the JMU lead. The goal was assisted by senior back Arden Goddard-Despot, which was her fourth of the season.
Still, KSU applied pressure late in the game, and the effort was rewarded with another cut into the lead. The score was made 3-2 on a penalty stroke goal by senior midfielder Bella Carpenter.
Carpenter cashed in on her fourth goal of the season. She kept her hot streak alive after scoring the game-winning goal a game ago in the quarterfinals match against Ball State in overtime.
The goal was scored with just under three minutes left on the clock. The clock began to bleed down from triple digits, to double digits and finally single digits.
James Madison was playing a defensive game up to that point, as KSU had a penalty stroke opportunity and shot on goal in the final three minutes.
The clock hit double zeros with the score still 3-2, and the Flashes fell to the top-seeded James Madison in the MAC semifinals match, ending the 2024 season.
Trends and looking ahead
The Flashes were down for quite a bit in the game, as the Flashes did not get on the board until the 53rd minute of a 60-minute game.
The box score was still split up on who had the advantage.
James Madison had many more shots and shots on goal over the Flashes. The Dukes had 18 total shots and 14 shots on goal – The Flashes only had nine total shots and five shots on goal.
Where KSU had the advantage was corner opportunities – KSU’s seven outdid JMU’s five.
Neither team committed a foul, but Jansen had an 11-save performance in net, and the JMU goalkeeper saved three of five shots against her.
The loss marked the end of coach Heather Hefner’s first season as KSU’s coach. She finished the season with a 7-12 record. She had a positive record against MAC opponents (5-3) and led four players to earn various All-MAC postseason honors.
With the offseason ahead for Hefner and the team, field hockey will look to take the MAC crown next season with experience and a bolstered lineup.
John Hilber is sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].
