Page D8 | Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Daily Kent Stater
A breakdown of Kent State’s sports teams Nick Shook and Cindy Deng nshook@kent.edu | cdeng@kent.edu
Football
Former head coach Darrell Hazell led Kent State’s football team to an 11-3 overall record, including a perfect 8-0 record in the Mid-American Conference in 2012. The Flashes also participated in the GoDaddy.com Bowl — the first bowl game in team history — against the Arkansas State Red Wolves but fell short 17-13. Defensive coordinator Brian George said the team wants to build on what was accomplished last season. “One of the big areas we’ll hit is working to finish what we started,” George said. “The one thing we focused on during the off season and continued on campus during this season is that not only do we want to get in position playing in the championship game and playing in a bowl game, but also to win the championship game and win the bowl game.”
Last year’s stats • 11-3 overall
• .786 pct. (percentage) • 8-0 conference • 5-0 home • 6-1 away • 0-2 neutral • MAC East Division champions
Men’s basketball
Kent State’s men’s basketball placed third in the MAC last season. They went 9-7 in the conference and 21-14 overall and fell to Akron in the MAC Tournament semifinals. Men’s basketball coach Rob Senderoff said he’s looking forward to see juniors K.K. Simmons and Derek Jackson — as well as freshmen Devin Carter and Marquiez Lawrence — play next season. He said the team is concentrating on improving its defensive game. “For our league … it’s a really a toss-up going into the season,” Senderoff said. “It’s who’s playing the best basketball and which team plays the best together.”
after the departure of former head coach Bob Lindsay. In her first season, O’Banion won just three games. The women’s team lost many close games and showed future promise with young players but has plenty of work to do before it returns to MAC prominence. Sophomore guard Rachel Mendelsohn leads a group looking for contributions from young players, as well as a trio of seniors.
Last year’s stats • 3-27 overall • 1-16 conference • 2-12 home • 1-15 away
Women’s soccer
The women’s soccer team remained among the best in the conference in 2012 but fell in the MAC Tournament semifinals to Miami by a score of 3-1. The Flashes will have to replace seniors Sara Henderson and Hannah Newhouse, who each earned MAC All-Tournament honors in 2012. Senior forward Jaclyn Dutton led the team in goals (15) and was second in assists (7). Junior forward Stephanie Haugh scored six goals in 2012.
Last year’s stats • 13-5-2 overall • 7-3 conference
BRIAN SMITH | DAILY KENT STATER Kent State sophomore Hannah Faulker hits the ball toward the Ball State goal on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Murphy-Mellis Field in Kent. The Flashes field hockey team won against the Cardinals 6-5.
• 3-7 home • 6-5 away
Golf
Volleyball
The volleyball team endured a difficult 201213 season, finishing with just six wins. The Flashes will have to replace departed senior Kathy Krupa, who was arguably the most impactful player on the team. Krupa recorded 161 kills and led the team with 91 blocks. The Flashes return a talented group that includes Hannah Herc, Jenny Buczek and Tinuke Aderimi-Ibitola, whose devastating spike notched her an even 300 kills. Herc recorded 403 digs to lead the team in 2012-13.
Last year’s stats
• 8-7 away
It was also a great year for both the men and women’s golf teams. The women’s golf team captured its 15th straight MAC Championship win and the men’s golf team captured its fifth. The men’s golf team placed 27th at the men’s NCAA MAC Golf Championship and junior Jennifer Ha placed 80th as an individual for the women’s, making her the second golfer in Kent State history to qualify. Other women to look out for include senior Josée Doyon, junior Natalie Goodson and new transfer Taylor Kim, said assistant women’s golf coach Maddie Swaney. Women’s head golf coach Greg Robertson said their goal for the season is to make progress. “The team made some big strides by the end of last year and we need to build on that and continue to improve,” Robertson said. “I want to see this group develop a champion’s mentality and play hard from the first tee shot of every tournament to the last putt.”
• 1-1 neutral
Last year’s men’s golf stats
Cross-country
Last year’s stats • 21-14 overall • 9-7 conference • 12-6 home
• MAC East Division champions
Women’s basketball
First-year coach Danielle O’Banion struggled to help turn around a once-successful program
Last year’s women’s golf stats • MAC East Division champions
• 6-22 overall • 3-13 conference
team. Returning runners for the women are senior Melinda Sawnor, junior Paige Foster and sophomores Hannah Fleck and Rachel Slingluff.
Field hockey
Kent State’s field hockey team consistently ranks among the best in the MAC. Seniors Alyssa McFerren, Melanie Kahn, Rebecca Lee and Sabrina Binder aim to lead a team along with juniors Julia Hofmann and Hannah Faulkner that fell to Miami in the MAC Championship Game. The Flashes return to the pitch loaded with talent and experience with the goal of winning a conference title.
Last year’s stats • 9-13 overall
• 3-8 home
• 4-1 conference
• 1-10 away
• 6-4 home
• 2-4 neutral
• 3-9 away
Men’s cross-country graduate Michael Heller concluded his career by finishing 175th overall in the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Notable returning runners include seniors Steve Fischer and Andrew Goodwin for the men’s
• Regular season MAC champions
SEE BREAKDOWN, PAGE D9