Kent State field hockey (4-4) suffered their third straight home loss Sunday after falling to the 15th ranked Northwestern (6-2) with a score of 4-1.

The Flashes came out looking to eradicate their losing streak but were met by an alert Northwestern team. Although both teams retained equal possession of the ball throughout the game, it was Northwestern who was able to take advantage and capitalize on the plays they were presented with.

It was all about opportunities Sunday for Kent State: the team took 17 shots for the day, all of which showed promise, but came up just short.

“We’re not taking our opportunities, and we need to,” said head coach Kathleen Wiler said. “Opportunity after opportunity, they’re there. We just need to put them in the back of the net.”

Northwestern needed only four shots in the first half to score their point, while it took Kent State 11 shots to finally obtain their first goal.

Northwestern wasted no time when it came to scoring; Northwestern freshman Eva van Agt scored her team’s first goal just six and a half minutes into the game.

The Flashes would be presented with three corners in a row midway through the first period, and then three more before the first half came to an end. They were not able to capitalize on any of these though.

Instead, the lone first half goal would come from junior Shannon Talbot, assisted by junior Silvia Figa Malgosa, with just 20 seconds remaining on the clock, tying the game at 1-1.

Kent State tried to run with the momentum that Talbot had created with her goal, but they were unable to score again. The Wildcats continued to come up with shots throughout the second half, scoring three additional times before the end of the game.

For Wiler, the end of this game and the upcoming game against Ball State University signals the beginning of a new chapter in the 2016 season.

“(When) conference play starts, it’s the beginning of a new season,” Wiler said. “We’re prepared and ready to give Ball State a really good run.”

Kent State will return for its fourth consecutive home game to face off against Ball State Friday at 2 p.m., the first conference matchup this season.

Brandon Busby is a sports reporter, contact him at [email protected].