The No. 17 Kent State field hockey team played a rollercoaster game against rival Miami before falling 4-3 in overtime yesterday.

The RedHawks knocked Kent State out of the Mid-American Conference Tournament last season with a 2-1 overtime loss for the Flashes in the semifinals.

Despite the outcome at Murphy-Mellis Field yesterday, Kent State coach Kathleen Wiler said the Flashes put together some excellent team plays.

“We had some real moments,” she said. “We had opportunities, but we weren’t opportunists.”

Freshman forward Rebecca Lee set the tone for the Flashes (5-5, 1-1 MAC) with a goal 11 minutes into the game. Junior defender Amy Wimsatt rebounded a deflected penalty corner shot five minutes later, giving Kent State a 2-1 lead in the first half.

The RedHawks (6-3, 1-1 MAC) rebutted with two goals off of penalty corners within two minutes in the second half.

It looked like Miami would serve Kent State a 3-2 defeat until Lee fought back for the Flashes, posting her second goal with three minutes left in the game.

Miami gained possession off a Kent State foul in the Flashes’ territory two minutes into overtime. After carrying down the sidelines, Miami’s Emily Gruesser scored, ending the game with a 4-3 loss for Kent State.

Wiler said the defeat could have been avoided with strong play throughout the entire game.

“Bottom line: the game is 70 minutes,” Wiler said. “We have to be able to put it together for 70 minutes.”

That’s not to say the Flashes didn’t fight ? literally.

After accidentally knocking two different players to the ground, junior forward Debbie Bell received a green card during the second half for aggressive play.

Junior defender Stephanie Arbelaez also made two forceful shoves in one of the most physical games this season.

The loss yesterday was completely different from Saturday’s game.

The Flashes started the weekend with an 8-2 victory over Ball State (3-5, 0-2 MAC) at Murphy-Mellis Field on Saturday.

Junior Amanda Hoffman said it was a good way for the team to start off its MAC play.

“It was good to build our confidence, especially since we had so many people score,” Hoffman said.

The forward contributed by sneaking in Kent State’s second goal of the game with 11 seconds left in the first half.

“I just saw the ball, shot and hoped for the best,” said Hoffman, who scored her first goal of the season. “I had no concept of time.

“It felt great. But it felt even better that a bunch of people got their first goals.”

With such a large lead over the Cardinals, Wiler started playing her second string.

Freshman midfielder Alyssa McFerren got her first goal of the season, as did Wimsatt.

After Bell’s penalty corner shot missed the goal, Wimsatt ran up to tuck away the fourth goal for Kent State.

“It was great to have a variety of people contribute,” Wiler said. “That experience is always helpful for them, too.”

Regular starters like senior forwards Rachel Miller and Nicole Leach contributed with two goals each. Senior defender Katie George also had a goal.

Miller earned her third goal of the season in the final seconds of the game. The captain connected the shot as the final whistle blew.

“We talked as a team and stayed focused,” Wiler said. “We had some beautiful goals.”

She said the team needs to improve on its process to the goal if it wants continued success in the MAC.

“We didn’t really perform where we wanted to,” Wiler said.

Hoffman also said Saturday’s victory was bittersweet.

“It sets the tone for the conference, but it’s also a reality check,” Hoffman said. “Not every game is going to be like that.”

Kent State 8, Ball State 2

Goals:

18’ Leach (unassisted) — KSU

35’ Hoffman (Lee) — KSU

43’ Miller (unassisted) — KSU

45’ George (unassisted) — KSU

52’ Wimsatt (Bell) — KSU

53’ Leach (Binder) — KSU

54’ Blaum (Kuhn) — BSU

61’ McFerren (unassisted) — KSU

65’ Hammer (Vonderbrink) — BSU

70’ Miller (unassisted) — KSU

Miami 4, Kent State 3 (OT)

Goals:

11’ Lee (Bell) — KSU

16’ Wimsatt (unassisted) — KSU

24’ Miller (unassisted) — MU

55’ Miller (Snyder) — MU

57’ Hull (Brightwell) — MU

67’ Lee (unassisted) — KSU

72’ Gruesser (Seeley) — MU

Player of the weekend: Rebecca Lee

The freshman forward posted two goals and one assist this weekend, including the tying point to put the Flashes into overtime against Miami yesterday.

Stat of the weekend: 3

Three players (Amanda Hoffman, Amy Wimsatt and Alyssa McFerren) scored their first goals of the season against Ball State last Friday.

Contact sports reporter Rachel Jones at [email protected].