After sharing the Mid-American Conference regular season title, Coach Kyle DeSandes-Moyer and the team are “excited to get it done in the MAC tournament.”

The final game of the regular season for Kent State’s field hockey team ended with a 2-1 victory over Ball State University.

Both Miami University and Kent State are 6-1 in the MAC. The two teams will share this year’s regular season title. A title which fifth-year midfielder Clara Rodriguez Seto said was “well deserved.”

“We have been playing very well together as a team,” Rodriguez Seto said. “We are super excited to play together for a MAC championship.” 

DeSandes-Moyer and the team are happy about the title, but are looking forward to the tournament. 

“A MAC regular season championship is something to be proud of,” DeSandes-Moyer said. “We are really looking forward to showing the rest of the MAC what we are capable of in the tournament.” 

The No. 22 Flashes went down early in the first period off a Ball State corner which would be the only goal in the first half. 

Playing from behind is something Kent State and its opponents are used to. 

“Like other teams know, we keep fighting no matter what the score is,” Rodriguez Seto said. “We were very consistent and, even though we were one down, we still played very well and knew we were eventually gonna score.”

The second half was all KSU. 

Rodriguez Seto scored almost four minutes into the third period off a Kent State penalty corner. Fifth-year midfielder Ashley Bonetz and senior forward Luisa Knapp had assists on the play. 

Nearly 13 minutes later, Rodriguez Seto would score again for the final goal of the game. 

Kent State had a season-high 33 shots this game, as well as a season high in shots on goal with 26. 

Despite having 26 shots on goal, KSU only managed to score twice.

“We probably didn’t score as much as we should have,” Rodriguez Seto said. “We know we have to keep trying and it will eventually go in.”

Ball State only managed to get four shots with only two on goal.

KSU had 10 penalty corners, while Ball State only had 3 penalty corners. 

Offense was the focus for DeSandes-Moyer’s team. 

“We really focused on how we were gonna generate more attacks,” DeSandes-Moyer said. “We knew Ball State was tough defensively, so I’m proud of the team’s effort and think they made a lot of good adjustments.” 

Rodriguez Seto has scored four goals in the past three games. She finished the season leading the Flashes with nine goals. 

Kent State finishes the regular season with a 12-5 record overall and a 6-1 record in the MAC. The Flashes also finished the season ranked at 22 with a MAC regular season title to go along with it. 

After not having a MAC tournament in two years, the team is looking forward to the tournament.

“We are very excited,” DeSandes-Moyer said. “It is definitely a highlight of our season, and we are very much looking forward to it.”

The Flashes hold the No. 2 seed in the MAC tournament. The team’s first round match will be on Friday against Longwood University, a team that Kent State beat earlier this month 3-2. 

Jacob Hansen is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].