Soccer earns first win since September in 2-1 triumph

Buffalo senior midfielder Courtney MacVie slides to steal the ball from Kent State sophomore forward Josee Charron. The Flashes defeated the Bulls 2-1 yesterday in their final game of the season. Sam Twarek | Daily Kent Stater

Credit: DKS Editors

It took a month and two days, but the Kent State soccer team finally got another win.

With a 2-1 win over Buffalo yesterday at the Kent State Soccer Field, the Flashes (6-11-1, 3-7-1 Mid-American Conference) ended their eight-game winless streak, which began with a 2-1 loss at Miami on Oct. 3. The team’s last win was Sept. 28, a 4-1 victory over Akron.

“It’s a relief,” senior defender Cassie Seten said. “It’s like ending the (Philadelphia) Phillies championship drought.”

The win also allowed the Flashes’ five seniors to end their collegiate careers on a positive note, as yesterday was the team’s final game of the season.

“It feels bittersweet – it’s nice to win your last game going out, but it’s also really hard because we weren’t able to show how good of a team we were all season,” Seten said. “I’m glad everybody came out hard and wanted to play this last game and win for ourselves, not just for the seniors.”

Kent State took the lead at the 18:19 mark off a throw-in pass by senior midfielder Caitlin Hester that was deflected in by Buffalo senior goalkeeper Amy Coron. Hester was credited with her team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Buffalo tied the game on a goal from senior forward Brooke McCalla at the 37:45 mark, but the Flashes would quickly retake the lead on a goal from freshman midfielder Jenni Stapleton at the 42:55 mark.

Neither team scored in the second half, giving the Flashes the win.

“It’s a huge (win) for us,” Stapleton said. “It wasn’t that we were getting down on ourselves, but it was kind of like a pride thing we needed to get back.”

The Flashes outshot Buffalo 22-8, including 10 shots on goal, and held an 11-4 advantage in corner kicks.

Kent State coach Rob Marinaro said the team’s capitalizing on its opportunities was the difference in the game.

“Last weekend at Toledo and (Bowling Green), I thought we played very well and we just fell short in both games,” Marinaro said. “This game we just capitalized, and the two opportunities we got we put away.”

Marinaro said the team played hard despite being eliminated from contention for the MAC Tournament.

“I think that shows what type of team we’re dealing with,” Marinaro said. “They knew that, and they wanted to end it the right way to show everybody they were capable of better things.”

Contact sports reporter Nick Walton at [email protected].