Kent State Captures 2014 MAC Field Hockey Title
KENT, Ohio – Kent State (10-10) doubled its championship total this season as the co-regular season champions took down Ohio (7-11) 2-0 Saturday at Murphy-Mellis Field to be crowned Mid-American Conference Tournament Champions.
The team will now head to the NCAA Tournament. First round matchups will be announced Sunday night at 10:00p.m. on NCAA.com.
In the championship game, the first half was a deadlock as neither team was able to get on the board. The Golden Flashes pummeled 13 shots while keeping Ohio to four in the opening half but couldn't capitalize.
That changed in the second half, as MAC Player of the Year Hannah Faulkner broke the scoreless game at the 53:07 minute mark on an assist by Krysti Lober.
Nearly 13 minutes later, with the large crowd chanting "K-E-N-T," Tournament MVP Julia Hofmann rifled a direct shot on a corner play and drilled it into the back of the net for the two-goal lead. Faulkner and Alayna Harris earned assists on the play.
Kent State outshot Ohio 19-10 in the game while the team each had five corners.
Andrea Rinehart was stalwart in net, stopping five Bobcat shots for the shutout.
Hofmann, Rinehart, Delpech and Madison Thompson were named to the All-Tournament team while Hofmann took home MVP honors.
Stay tuned to kentstatesports.com and @KentStFH on Twitter for all pertinent information as the team progresses through the postseason.
Tournament MVP: Julia Hofmann, Kent State
2014 All-Tournament Team
Mary Moore, Central Michigan
Sadie Lynn Reynolds, Central Michigan
Ines Delpech, Kent State
Maddie Thompson, Kent State
Andrea Rinehart, Kent State
Julie Hofmann, Kent State
Geagy Pritchard, Miami
Bea Dechant, Miami
Brittany Walker, Ohio
Caelyn Hartley, Ohio
Adele Sammons, Ohio
