However, her next goal did not come until Oct. 17 against Ball State. She has scored in every game since then.

Gironda and coach Rob Marinaro said they believe her scoring streaks and cold streak is due to the team finally grasping the two different formations.

“I think our freshmen are now starting to figure things out, understanding the game,” Marinaro said. “Especially moving into Mid-American Conference play.”

Gironda explained what her and her teammates figured out.

“We got acquainted and learned to find the gaps and utilize it,” Gironda said.

These gaps enabled Gironda to score eight goals, the fifth-most goals in a season in Kent State soccer history.

Marinaro said he is very pleased of his versatile freshman.

“We’ve asked Jess to do a lot of different things,” Marinaro said. “She’s played a bit of forward. She’s played a bit of midfield. She does what she’s asked and that’s why I say she’s a great team player. She works hard at whatever I ask her to do.”

The Flashes will finish its season at 3 p.m. in Zoeller Field against the one-win Buffalo Bulls (1-15-2, 0-8-2 MAC). Kent State will look to capitalize on the Bulls, who have allowed its opponents to take 301 shots compared to its 150.

Kent State will face quality goalkeepers in today’s game. Buffalo has two primary goalkeepers. Most likely, the Flashes will either face junior Danielle Quigley or freshman Ainsley Wheldon. Though they have given up a combined 42 goals, the two have also recorded 119 saves. Both have slightly better save percentages than Kent State’s Kelly Sherwood.

Even though neither team is competing for a MAC Tournament spot, Marinaro said the mentality will not change for this game.

“We’ve got to treat this like another MAC opponent,” Marinaro said. “You’ve got to throw the records out because when the ball rolls out, it’s the best team on that day that’s going to win. It’s got to be another game we look to improve our type of play.”

Gironda said gaining momentum through a victory in this game is important.

“Whenever you end on a good win, it carries over to the next season — the spring to the fall,” Gironda said. “It helps to know at the end of the season we gelled and played really well.”

A win would also help ease the team’s unfortunate season.

“I thought all season we played well,” Gironda said. “We just got a few unlucky breaks that didn’t go our way.”

You can contact Alex Atkinson at [email protected].