KENT, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team closed its weekend trip to Ohio with a 6-0 setback at Kent State. Senior
MacKenzie Lee (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) and freshman
Julia Lentz (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) each made six saves in goal for the Huskies.
After hitting the post in the second minute of play, the Golden Flashes opened the scoring in the fourth minute as Cameron Shedenhelm scored from close range to give Kent State an early 1-0 lead.
Kent State (9-7-2, 5-4-1 MAC) doubled its lead in the 31st minute as Vital Kats took a free kick and found Paige Culver who tallied as the Golden Flashes lead grew to 2-0.
Five minutes later the Golden Flashes added a third as Maddie Holmes and Maddie Lavigna combined before a long ball was played into the six-yard box where Kats pounced to finish.
Two minutes before the break, freshman
Kylee Hermeyer (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) had a chance for the Huskies but her shot went wide as Kent State took a 3-0 lead into halftime.
Kats added her second goal of the game in the 57th minute. Shedenhelm was in the box and found a streaking Kats who slotted home the goal to give the Golden Flashes their fourth.
NIU (2-16, 1-9 MAC) responded less than 30 seconds later with a great chance as junior
Natalie Yass (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) unleashed a shot from the left side that Kent State goalkeeper Faith O'Neill tipped against the crossbar.
With just under 20 minutes to go the Huskies had two more chances as a shot from Hermeyer was stopped by O'Neill in the 73rd minute and an attempt from Yass was turned away by the Golden Flashes goalkeeper in the 76th minute.
Three minutes later Kent State scored again as Dominique DiNardo scored from inside the box off a feed from Kats. The Golden Flashes closed the scoring two minutes from time when NIU turned the ball into its own net for an own goal.
The Huskies will conclude the season on Thursday, October 25, when they travel to Western Michigan. Game time against the Broncos is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.
