After two losses last weekend and two big wins the weekend before, Kent State soccer (6-8-2, 3-4-1 Mid-American Conference) is looking to reach its peak of the season’s emotional roller coaster this weekend.

Kent State coach Rob Marinaro said the team was out of sync last weekend, but they are focused on this weekend’s result.

“We just have to make some adjustments to play with more confidence,” Marinaro said.

The Flashes are not re-adjusting strategically, but they also have to deal with injuries to the squad.

“We are experiencing some injuries,” Marinaro said, “but it comes down to working as a team and coming together to play as well as we possibly can.”

Last weekend, the Flashes fell to the No. 8 spot in MAC standings.

Marinaro said that right now the standings are not a major concern at this point.

“Our concern is how well we can play,” Marinaro said. “That is our focus. We need to get the results in order to make the tournament.”

The Flashes return with their hometown energy to face Ohio (3-11-0, 1-7-0 MAC) on at 3 p.m. on Friday. Then they finish up the weekend against the backyard-rival Akron (3-10-2, 1-6-1 MAC) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

“We have a very good group of young ladies,” Marinaro said. “We just have to play with confidence.”

-Deanna Stevens