Freshman Caitlin Hester gets the ball off of midfielders from Ohio University Friday afternoon at Kent. Kent won 3-2.

Credit: Steve Schirra

The Kent State soccer team is officially a contender in the Mid-American Conference Tournament after two crucial wins at home this weekend.

The Flashes (8-8-2, 5-4-1 MAC) sported the gold home jerseys for the last time this season against the Akron Zips (4-11-2, 2-7-1 MAC) in a 2-1 win yesterday.

Only fitting for senior night, senior Jen Frey scored the first goal for the Flashes, two minutes into the game. The goal was assisted by fellow senior Ashley Bohinc and sophomore Amy Kessler.

Frey said the team wanted the win for a multiple of reasons.

“We wanted to come out and guarantee a spot in the playoffs,” Frey said. “And its our home field. We can’t lose here.”

The game-winning goal came from Akron on behalf of Kent State. With 20 minutes left in the first half, the Flashes got the ball in the vicinity of the net past the goalie, and an Akron defender deflected it into the net.

Junior goalkeeper Alicia Fernandez had two saves for the game. One came 20 minutes into the second half, keeping the Zips from tying the match. After being tangled up deep into the net, Fernandez came out of the pack and knocked the ball out of the air to end the Zips’ scoring opportunity for that drive.

Kent State coach Rob Marinaro said he wanted his team to perform to at the level he knew they were capable of.

“We wanted to come out strong,” Marinaro said. “The young ladies knew how important today’s game was and wanted to be in control from the beginning.”

But to even be in the position that they were yesterday, the Flashes needed to defeat the Ohio Bobcats (3-12, 1-8 MAC) on Friday.

And beat them they did.

In a match worthy of cardiac arrest, the Flashes came back from a 2-0 deficit late in the second half to beat the Bobcats 3-2.

According to Marinaro, this game was a huge win in regards to confidence.

“It was a confidence builder,” Marinaro said. “It was a great example of what they are capable of. That gave them a boost to finish off this weekend.”

Once again, Frey began the scoring for Kent State with 11 minutes left in the second half. This goal was assisted by sophomore Lisa Kurz off a corner kick.

Sophomore Catharine Marosszeky tied the game with five minutes left in the game off an assist by Kurz.

And the game-winning goal came by freshman Caitlin Hester, with her first goal of the season. In a play as dramatic as the comeback effort, Hester received the ball off a corner kick by Kurz, then deflected by Marosszeky. While Hester’s back was toward the goal, she had enough presence of mind to aim and shoot.

Hester said the team knew that the comeback was possible.

“During half time we talked about coming out and fighting,” Hester said. “It took us a while to score in the second half, but once we got that first goal, we knew we wouldn’t stop.”

Contact soccer reporter Deanna Stevens at [email protected].