Wins over two ranked teams last week moved the Kent State field hockey team into the top 25 itself.

The Flashes, 3-1 on the season, were ranked 23rd by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. It’s the first time Kent State has been ranked since 2010, when it was No. 17.

KSU beat No. 14 Syracuse 2-1 in overtime on Saturday and No. 22 Ohio State 3-1 Tuesday. 

Also on Tuesday, the Mid-American Conference named Kent State sophomore midfielder Jenna McCrudden offensive player of the week and Flash goalie Azure Fernsler defensive player of the week.

On Sunday, McCrudden scored off a pass from Helena Cambra Soler to finish Kent State’s sudden-victory overtime win. She is second in the MAC in goals with three in four games.

Fernsler, a fifth-year player, allowed only one goal in each of KSU’s two victories. She had 12 saves over the two games and is second in the MAC, allowing 1.4 goals per game.

The previous week Kent State sophomore forward Katie Wuerstle was MAC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring two goals in the opening weekend of the season.

Syracuse fell to No. 16 in this week’s rankings while Ohio State dropped out of the top 25.

The games marked the first time Kent State has beaten two ranked teams in a season since 2010. KSU’s highest ranking in school history was seventh at the end of the 2002 season. That year the Flashes went 19-4 and were 10-0 in the MAC. They lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Flashes take on two more ranked teams this weekend at Northwestern, where they will play the No. 5 Wildcats on Friday. On Saturday, they’ll play No. 25 Maine. Both will be played at Northwestern’s field in Evanston, Illinois.

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