Kent State Hosts Duquesne in Preseason Scrimmage

Hannah Newhouse

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KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's soccer team got an early look at the 2010 regular season Wednesday, as the Golden Flashes hosted Duquesne in a scrimmage at KSU Soccer Field. The two teams played a trio of 30-minute periods, allowing each team to get a feel for intercollegiate competition prior to their respective season openers.

In the first 30-minute period, Kent State freshman Morgan Mah (Edmonton, Alberta) showed promise on the outside, as she had a pair of runs in the span of five minutes that resulted in quality chances, including her own shot on goal in the fifth minute.

Also getting chances on frame for Kent State in the first period were junior Vanessa Salerno (Etobicoke, Ontario) and senior Josee Charron (Ottawa, Ontario). But the Golden Flashes were unable to take advantage of a 9-1 shots advantage in the stanza.

The second period brought more offensive kick as seniors Kelly Heaton (Mississauga, Ontario) and Annie Messer (Dayton, Ohio) peppered the Duqesne net with shots. But it was the Dukes that broke the game's scoreless tie in the 57^th minute when Kent State wasn't able to gather nor clear a loose ball in the box, and Duquesne's Brooke Nettuno volleyed the ball in from eight yards for the 1-0 lead.

In the third period, freshman Jessacca Gironda (Akron, Ohio) broke free on the right in the 64^th minute, but Duquesne goalkeeper Ashley Szalwinski 's diving save kept Kent State at bay.

Gironda kept up her pressure, and in the 68^th minute her persistance came to fruition. After gathering a through ball from the midfield, Gironda deftly feigned the Duquesne goalkeeper, leaving her with an open goal opportunity. The freshman buried the chance to knot the game at 1-1.

But no sooner did Kent State equalize did Duquesne regain its lead, when Barbie Rohm found the back of the net.

Kent State tried to keep the scoring pace at a frenzy, as sophomore Sara Henderson (Strongsville, Ohio) fired from long range, only to be denied by the crossbar in the 69^th minute.

In the game's final ticks, junior Gabi Ingram (Indianapolis, Ind.) blasted a 35-yard shot from the left that slipped underneath the Duquesne goalkeeper. A foot race between Kent State freshman Megan Jackson (Medina, Ohio) and a Duquesne defender insued, and the Dukes back was able to poke the ball from immediate danger.

Kent State finished with a 24-8 shots advantage, with 10-7 lead in shots on goal.

The Golden Flashes return to action Friday, Aug. 13 with their second scrimmage of the preseason when Kent State hosts St. Francis (Pa.) at 4 p.m. at the KSU Soccer Field.