Nov. 10, 2002
OXFORD, Ohio - The Kent State University Golden Flashes advanced to their fifth straight NCAA appearance, and upped their winning streak to seven games with a 1-0 blanking of Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference Field Hockey championship contest. MAC Freshman of the Year Tess Meuleman deflected in the Golden Flashes fourth corner in the first half for the game's lone goal.
Meuleman tallied the game's only goal when senior Helen Jerdan, MAC co-Player of the Year, hit a direct hit in her direction that she craftily deflected into the upper tier of the Ohio goal. The goal came at the 15:30 mark in the first period, and the set the stage for an exciting final 50 minutes of championship-game action.
The Bobcats tried to get things rolling in the second half when they were awarded three straight penalty corners on one sequence, but never managed to get the ball past a stingy Kent State defense. Junior Jessica Creeden made two stops for the Golden Flashes, one of which was a crucial save in the last 10 minutes of the game to seal the victory for Kent State.
Ohio finishes the season with a 12-10 overall record, while the Golden Flashes advance to the next level of play at the NCAA's with a 16-6 mark.
Named to the all-tournament team from the runner-up Bobcats were senior Jenn Watt, junior Amanda Freeman and sophomore goalie Ashley Pitkin. Watt earns all-tourney honors after scoring the game-winning goal in Ohio's semifinal contest against Louisville, while Freeman was part of a Bobcats defense that held their opponents to only four goals in three games. Pitkin recorded a 1.09 goals against average in 256:25 between the pipes, stopping a total of 24 shots.
Representing the championship team, Kent State, are seniors Helen Jerdan and Fiona Brew, junior goalie Jessica Creeden, and freshman Tess Meuleman. Jerdan registered six points for the Golden Flashes in their three-game set on the Miami Turf Field with one goal and four assists. All four of Jerdan's assists were on direct hits to Meuleman, who led all tournament players with four goals, three of which were game-winners. Brew found the net twice for Kent State while Creeden needed only seven saves in recording 1.5 shutouts and three wins.
Also on the all-tournament team were representatives from both Louisville and Central Michigan. Seniors Danielle Barr and MAC co-Player of the Year Pip Sanders were named to the all-tournament team from the Cardinals. All-tournament team selections from the Chippewas were senior Maria Neiswender and junior Allison Foland.
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