Coach Kathleen Wiler earned her 100th career win as the Flashes opened their season in dramatic fashion with a 4-3 double-overtime win against Virginia Commonwealth University on Saturday.

“It’s great to open up at home in front of a great crowd and grind out a win,” Wiler said. “I couldn’t do it without my staff and the athletes that give their heart for the blue and gold.”

After trailing VCU 1-0 in the first half, sophomore Jamie Fries responded early in the second by scoring her first career goal to tie the game.

“It’s really exciting and nice to experience that with my teammates,” Fries said. “I got a touch on the cage and it went off the keeper’s pads and into the goal.”

VCU answered with another goal before sophomore Alison Harmatz and junior Krysti Lober both scored to give Kent State a 3-2 lead with five minutes left in the second half.

The Flashes allowed a late goal off of a deflection which sent the game into overtime.

After a scoreless first overtime, junior Madison Thompson returned to the game after suffering a leg injury at the end of regulation.

“I went down with just a couple leg injuries for the end of regulation and the first overtime.” Thompson said.

A few minutes after her return, Thompson scored the game-winning goal off of a shot deflection, giving the Flashes a 4-3 win over VCU.

“That’s showing how teammates work for one another,” Thompson said. “They get all the credit for that goal. I was just there to put it away and I’m so grateful I have such hard-working teammates.”

The Flashes will travel to East Lansing, Michigan, to take on Old Dominion University Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3 p.m.

Contact Zac Sommer at [email protected]