Miami Slips By No. 17 Kent State 4-3 In Overtime

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Golden Flashes unable to hang onto 2-0 lead

KENT, Ohio — Up 2-0 in the first half No. 17 Kent State was unable to hang on in a tightly contested 4-3 overtime loss to visiting Miami in Mid-American Conference field hockey action today at Murphy-Mellis Field.  

Kent State (5-5; 1-1 MAC) held a 9-2 edge in penalty corner opportunities, but did not take full advantage until the closing minutes of regulation.  Down 3-2 freshman Rebecca Lee (Bathurst, Australia/The Scots School) sent home a rebound off her own shot attempt to tie the game and help force the extra session.  In overtime after Miami (6-3; 1-1 MAC) gained possession on the Kent State end Emily Gruesser scored from four-yards out in the center of the circle to give the RedHawks the 4-3 win.  

To start of the game Lee staked Kent State to a 1-0 lead at the 11:42 mark of the first half when she scored from seven yards out on the left side.  Junior Debbie Bell (Hamilton, New Zealand / Waikato) set up the score by forcing a turnover at 35-yards and dribbling into the circle where she found Lee for her third goal of the season.  

Just over four minutes later the Golden Flashes lead grew to 2-0 when junior Amy Wimsatt (Louisville, Ky./Mercy Academy) scored her second goal in as many games when she knocked in a loose ball out of a penalty corner situation.

Miami would cut the margin in half in the 25th minute.  The RedHawks Oliva Miller dribbled in and scored from seven yards out after a Kent State turnover on the defensive end.  After earning a penalty corner in the 56th minute, Miami capitalized with another goal from Miller to tie the game at 2-2.  Just over a minute later another penalty corner led to a Mary Hull goal as the RedHawks went ahead 3-2 with just under 13 minutes left in the game.  

Fighting against the clock and the Miami defense, the Golden Flashes earned a penalty corner opportunity in the 68th minute.  After her first shot attempt was blocked, Lee stepped up and delivered the second one home to even the count at 3-3 with just over two minutes left in regulation.  

Kent State also led shot attempts by a 17-10 margin.  

"We had some excellent team play at moments but need to focus on putting a full 70 minutes together," said Head Coach Kathleen (Schanne) Wiler.  "We are only one weekend into the conference so there is still plenty of games left to be played."

Having just completed a six-game home stand Kent State travels to Central Michigan on Friday at 2:00 p.m.  The Golden Flashes then play at Northwestern on Sunday before returning home on Oct. 8 and 10 for Homecoming weekend.