p>Following a home loss to Northwestern last Sunday, the Kent State field hockey team will finish its current home stand with a Mid-American Conference match against Central Michigan Saturday at Murphy-Mellis Field.

The Flashes (5-8, 1-0 MAC) currently are tied with the Chippewas for first place in the conference after defeating the Missouri State Bears 5-2 in their conference opener last Friday. CMU (4-6, 1-0 MAC) earned a victory against Ball State in its MAC opener this past Saturday.

During the game, the team will be raising money for Parkinson’s disease research in a promotion called Shoot Out Parkinson’s. The fundraiser will be held on behalf of the team’s learning specialist Deborah Keith, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2012, and all proceeds of the event will go to a research program headed by Dr. Angela Ridgel, assistant professor of exercise science and physiology at Kent State.

“The fact that this very special team is willing to champion the cause of Parkinson’s disease with their words and actions means more than I can say,” Keith said in a statement.

The Flashes will look to take control of first place with help from junior standout Julia Hofmann. Hofmann leads in the conference in a number of major offensive categories, including shots, goals and total points. In the Flashes’ 13 games this season, Hofmann has scored at least one goal in seven of them.

Hofmann’s performance this season is followed closely by senior Rebecca Lee, who is second in the conference in shots and points behind Hofmann. Lee is also tied for second in goals this season with teammate Melanie Kahn.

The Chippewas come to Kent on a two-match winning streak after breaking a six-match losing streak with a win against UC-Davis last Friday. Mary Alice Moore leads the Chippewas with four goals in just 10 games played, tying for tenth in the MAC in that category.

Saturday’s action is scheduled to begin at noon.

Contact Chris Ginley at [email protected].