Sports
Soccer: Ohio loses late to Kent State, loses chance at MAC East title
By: Grant Burkhardt
Posted on:
One second is all it takes.
With one tick remaining on the regulation clock, Kent State's Megan Repas scored to beat Ohio 1-0 and win the MAC East regular season title for KSU.
The Golden Flashes will be the top-seed out of the East, as they are now four points ahead of Ohio with just one game remaining.
For the third time in four conference games, the 'Cats couldn't finish. Against Miami (OH) two Fridays ago, the Redhawks scored with 10 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime, where MU won in double-OT.
Then, against Buffalo a week later, the Bulls scored with less than two minutes left in regulation to send the contest to overtime, where the 'Cats earned a disappointing draw.
But even with all that, a MAC East title was possible, if the 'Cats could beat Kent State and then Akron in the regular season finale. It was possible, at least, until Repas' shot with one second left ended those hopes for Ohio.
Kent State peppered Ohio freshman goalkeeper Nicole Amari (playing in place of injured Bobcat GK Mattie Liston) to the tune of 21 shots. Amari made eight saves but couldn't come up with Repas' shot, which was fired from close range on Amari's left side as time was expiring.
Ohio still has a chance to secure the second-place spot in the East if it can beat Akron on Thursday night on the road.
MAC East Standings:
1. Kent State: 12-6-0, 6-4-0 MAC
2. Ohio: 7-9-2, 4-4-2
3. Buffalo: 10-4-4, 3-3-4
4. Miami (OH): 9-8-0, 4-6-0
5. Akron: 6-8-2, 3-5-2
6. Bowling Green: 6-13-0, 3-7-0