Unable to gain any momentum throughout the game, Kent State women’s lacrosse lost to Duquesne 15-4.

The Flashes fall to 0-2 to start the season and the Dukes move to 2-1.

Despite the loss, coach Brianne Tierney was happy with the game plan.

“Our goal was to take away nine (senior midfielder Alano Piano) and 11 (freshmen attacker Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw),” she said. “Though when we focused on those two players, it allowed other players for them (Duquesne) to step up and make plays.”

The Flashes played a tight first quarter and they were down 3-2 after one. But they were outscored 10-1 through the second and third quarters.

Turnovers remained an issue for KSU as they committed 12 turnovers during that period and 28 for the game.

Kent State was able to limit the scoring in the fourth quarter holding Duquesne to two goals.

With 6:52 left in the first half, sophomore Ella Gravitt replaced junior Madison Flannigan at goalie.

“We saw that Ella had an excellent warm-up and was seeing the ball well,” Tierney said. “Once you go down 7-3, it can be hard for a goalie to flush those things, and getting a new mentality back there was something I wanted to do.”

Going into the next game, Kent State will need to find a way to carry momentum throughout the game, Tierney said.

“We played a great first quarter and played hard in the last quarter,” she said. “What we do in the middle of the game is going to affect the outcome of the game.”

The Dukes had 30 shots, with 25 on goal; KSU had 17 shots, with 8 on goal.

Tierney said that she was pleased with the team’s adjustments going into the game, but work still needs to be done.

“Our draw control and transitioning were much improved from last game,” she said. “Getting our turnovers down is something that we need to focus on.”

Tierney said that senior captain Madison Rapier had missed the first two games with an injury.

“No timetable yet, but we hope to get her back soon,” she said. “The team misses her presence. She knows how to find the ball and the back of the net.”

“She has a very high lacrosse IQ, and there’s no doubt that we are missing her.”

Kent State will take on Akron, which is 1-2, at 4 p.m. Wednesday at InfoCision Stadium for their first Mid-American Conference game of the season.

Jacob Shondel is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].