Kent State’s women’s lacrosse team allowed just five goals in a victory just two days prior.

Friday, the Flashes gave up 12 goals in a 12-9 loss to St. Francis. 

“St. Francis was well prepared for us,” coach Brianna Tierney said. “A lot of little mistakes at the beginning of the game”

Both teams traded goals in the first quarter as senior attackers Kenzie Sklar and Morgan Kubicki scored for Kent State, tying it up at 2-2 fifteen minutes.

St. Francis started the second quarter with three goals in the first three minutes. Sklar and junior attack Jackie Wolford stopped the run by scoring two quick unassisted goals to make the score 5-4. 

The Red Flashes responded by scoring two goals in the last three minutes to lead 7-4 at halftime. 

The defense played the biggest factor in the third quarter. St. Francis scored three goals in the quarter while only allowing one. 

Sklar was the only scorer in the quarter for the Flashes off an assist from Kubicki to cut the lead down to 10-5 after three quarters.

“The growth for today was our defense,” Tierney said. “In the past we kinda sat back and waited for the other team to make mistakes, we were making them make mistakes today.” 

St. Francis opened the fourth quarter with a goal to push the lead to 11-5 .The Flashes kept fighting after freshman midfielder Emily Bond scored two goals and Wolford and Sklar scored again to make the score 11-9. 

St. Francis slowed the game down, scoring just one more goal to prevent a comeback.

“We need some work on the draw controls,” Tierney said. “Just doing a better job attacking the cage is what I’m looking for”. 

Sklar led the Flashes with four goals and Kubicki led the team with two assists.

Kent State will get a week off before playing Presbyterian at 2pm, March 16, in Dix Stadium. 

Matthew Franos is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].