Field Hockey team heads to Oxford for MAC Tournament
Miami’s Emily Gruesser (right) is struck by Kent’s senior midfielder Alyssa McFerren’s stick after she passed the ball on Oct. 27, 2013 at Murphy-Mellis Field. Miami fell to Kent, 3-1. Photo by Matt Hafley.
November 8, 2013
The Kent State field hockey team made it to the championship match of the Mid-American Conference tournament the past two seasons, losing both games by a score of 2-1.
Now the Flashes will look to take home a championship trophy as the team enters as the No. 1 seed in the 2013 MAC Tournament beginning Friday in Oxford, Ohio.
Kent State, led by MAC Coach of the Year Kathleen Wiler, heads into the tournament on a two-match losing streak, falling 3-2 to the Ohio Bobcats and 6-0 to the Louisville Cardinals. The Flashes will take on the Central Michigan Chippewas in the first semifinal matchup at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
The Flashes have won the last 14 matches against the Chippewas.
The Ohio Bobcats will face the host Miami (Oh.) Redhawks in the other semifinal matchup Friday afternoon, with the championship game to be held at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Scouting Kent State
Top Scorers
Julia Hofmann (10 goals, 7 assists, 27 points.)
Hannah Faulkner (8 G, 3 A, 19 Pts.)
Rebecca Lee (6 G, 5 A, 17 Pts.)
With seven double-digit point scorers, the Flashes come into the tournament atop many of the MAC’s statistical categories, including, scoring margin (1.53), scoring average (3.43) and goals scored (18).
Scouting Central Michigan
Top Scorers
Bailey McKeon (4 G, 3 A, 11 Pts.)
Jordyn Brengosz (5 G, 1 A, 11 Pts.)
Kaysie Gregory 3 G, 4 A 4, 10 Pts.)
Despite being competitive in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Flashes on Oct. 12, the Chippewas haven’t made a huge impact offensively this season. CMU scored just 24 goals as a team, so the team will likely have to depend on its defense to come away with a win.
Scouting Miami (Oh.)
Top Scorers
Ali Froede (9 G, 2 A, 20 Pts.)
Emily Gruesser (7 G, 3 A, 17 Pts.)
Valentina Niera (5 G, 6 A, 16 Pts.)
The Redhawks are probably the team that most resembles the Flashes. With a number of offensive weapons and a goalie, Sarah Mueller, who is third in the MAC in goals-against average, the Redhawks will be a tough team to beat.
Scouting Ohio
Top Scorers
Luli Gomez Teruel (11 G, 3 A, 25 Pts.)
Jessica Jue (6 G, 2 A, 14 Pts.)
With MAC Player of the Year Luli Gomez Teruel, the Bobcats have won four of their last six matches, including a 1-0 victory over the Redhawks on Oct. 23.
Contact Chris Ginley at [email protected].
