Kent State and Akron women’s lacrosse opened Mid-American Conference play with a physical game, but the Flashes fell 11-6.

The first of five yellow cards in the game came courtesy of Akron, setting the tone for Kent State to be a little more aggressive.

“When you’re getting pushed and getting fouled, it’s going to come out a little more,” coach Brianne Tierney said. “We felt like we had a little more speed to go at them.”

The Flashes fall to 0-3 (0-1 MAC), while the Zips improve to 2-2 (1-0 MAC).

“I thought Akron played a great game, their goalie had some really good saves, and number seven [sophomore midfielder Noelle Boyd] had a very good game in the draw control and finding the back of the net,” Tierney said.

Boyd finished the game with six goals, a career-high, and she led both teams with nine draw controls.

After KSU surrendered the game’s first goal, sophomore attacker Jackie Wolford responded with two quick goals, giving the Flashes a 2-1 lead, their only lead of the game.

After playing a tight second quarter, Kent State went into halftime trailing 4-3.

The Zips would dominate the third quarter; outscoring the Flashes 4-2 and won all six draw controls during the quarter.

KSU opened the fourth quarter with a quick strike from Wolford, bringing the score to 8-6. With 10:36 remaining in the game, Zips sophomore midfielder Mackenzie Kirwan scored, ending all hope for the Flashes.

Tierney said free-position shots are going to be something KSU works on.

“After the last couple of games, we have to make that a focus in practice,” she said. “If we get a couple more of those to go in, I think it would’ve been a different game.”

Kent State was 1-6 on free-position shots; Akron was 5-8.

Zips sophomore goalie Ashley Lapp finished the game with 16 saves, but Tierney said it felt like she had a lot more than that.

“She had a pretty good day in the cage,” she said. “And that hurt us.”

The Flashes had 30 shots, with 22 on goal; the Zips had 26 shots, with 25 on goal.

“It’s disappointing and frustrating not being able to win this rivalry game,” Wolford said. “Our team is special, and we will learn from this.”

Kent State kicks off a two-game road trip in South Carolina, taking on Presbyterian, which is 1-1, Friday at 5 p.m.

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