A cold and rainy afternoon at Murphy-Mellis Field could not deter the Flashes from adding another mark in the win column. Kent State handily defeated Ball State, 4-1, on Sunday. Senior forward Debbie Bell scored two goals and sophomore midfielder Alyssa McFerren recorded two assists to lead the Flashes to victory.

Kent State field hockey coach Kathleen Wiler has made it a point to focus on starting games with a high level of intensity. Senior Carla Johl scored the Flashes’ first goal of the game just over three minutes into the game on a rebound off of a corner attempt. Kent State’s second goal of the game was scored two minutes later by sophomore Rebecca Lee. McFerren delivered the entry pass to Lee, who knocked in the shot on the doorstep of the goal and extended Kent State’s lead to 2-0.

“I was lucky enough to have someone in front of the goal, and they put it in,” McFerren said.

Kent State added another goal 20 minutes later when McFerren’s cross found Bell inside the left post of the goal. Bell received the pass and shot it into the back of the cage, pushing the Flashes’ lead to 3-0.

“I didn’t see her, but I knew she would be there,” McFerren said. “We’ve been working on that in practice, so I had to trust that she would get there.”

The Flashes closed their scoring for the afternoon just before halftime when Bell recorded her second goal of the game and 12th of the season. She received a pass from McFerren and took it herself down the far sideline, weaving in between two defenders before launching a shot at Ball State goalkeeper Chelsea Mitchell, who initially deflected the shot. However, Bell knocked in the rebound and gave Kent State a 4-0 lead.

Kent State took the field in the second half with what appeared to be a sluggish approach and allowed a late goal to Ball State’s Devanny Kuhn. However, the Flashes still emerged victorious by a score of 4-1. Kent State managed to split the weekend home stand by defeating Ball State following a loss to Miami on Saturday.

“I think it was really good for the team’s confidence,” Wiler said.

The team’s effort level improved over the weekend, although their record doesn’t show it. Wiler was encouraged by her players’ desire to succeed over the weekend.

“I was really happy with it,” Wiler said. “I think we had a little bit of a lull in the second half, but I think we keep working and just keep meshing, and we went 1-1 on the weekend, so it was a good rebound from yesterday.”

Kent State will travel to Central Michigan to take on the Chippewas Saturday at 1 p.m.

Contact Nick Shook at [email protected] and @Shookie_Cookie.