DEKALB, Ill. – Kent State scored the lone goal of the contest in the 47th minute as the Golden Flashes claimed a 1-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 29) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Junior goalkeeper Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) made nine saves in the contest for the Huskies.

"We didn't play a full match and if you don't do that you can't win a game," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "In the MAC you cannot show up for anything less than every minute of the game if you want to win. Hopefully our new players realize that at this point because we can't afford to do that for anymore matches, teams will punish you."

Kent State (3-4-2, 1-0-1 MAC) started the quicker of the two teams, and Donnally was called upon to make a good save in the seventh minute, tipping a shot by Maddie Holmes over the crossbar and out for a corner.

NIU (2-6-1, 0-2-0 MAC) had its first look at goal in the 19th minute as sophomore Kylee Hermeyer (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) collected a bouncing ball inside the Kent State box but her shot was blocked away by a defender for the Golden Flashes.

In the 28th minute, Donnally made an excellent reaction save on a shot from Vital Kats that came from a low cross toward the six-yard box. Two minutes later, Donnally made another good save with her feet on an effort by Cameron Shedenhelm.

The Huskies earned a free kick in a dangerous position in the 42nd minute but junior Madison Kaufmann (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) sailed the shot over the crossbar as the Huskies and Golden Flashes went into the intermission scoreless.

Two minutes after the interval Kent State went in front through Kats. Shedenhelm played the ball into the feet of Kats who made a mazing run through the NIU defense and into the box before slotting home the opening goal past Donnally to give the Golden Flashes a 1-0 lead.

Kent State maintained its one-goal advantage into the final 10 minutes when NIU's push for a tying goal led to chances for both teams. In the 82nd minute, freshman Nicolette Gossage (Moneka, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) sent a low shot at goal from near the top of the box that was collected by Kent State goalkeeper Faith O'Neill. The Golden Flashes immediately countered the NIU chance as Shedenhelm created space cutting in from the right for a shot that sailed just over the crossbar.

A minute later, NIU earned a free kick from about 30 yards and senior Jennie Nailor (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) stepped up to have a go at goal, missing the net high.

NIU's final opportunity came from a corner in the 89th minute as Kaufmann's in-swinging corner appeared to be headed for the goal until it was cleared off the line by Kent State's Tianna Harris as the Golden Flashes hung on for the 1-0 victory.

Next weekend, NIU will head on the road for the first time in conference play as the Huskies travel to Eastern Michigan on Friday, October 4, and Central Michigan on Sunday, October 6.