AKRON & KENT, Ohio – Beginning a series of four consecutive road meetings that spans an 11-day period, the Presbyterian College lacrosse team has opted for a two-game nonconference swing in the Buckeye State this Tuesday and Thursday, battling Akron and Kent State in quick succession to serve as the week's layout.
Originally marked for a 5:00 p.m. start, incoming inclement weather in the vicinity has delayed tomorrow's bout with the Zips while also pushing the contest to an indoor facility, now getting underway at 7:30. A much earlier draw control awaits the Blue Hose in their next encounter versus the Golden Flashes (1:00), as PC embarks on the third all-time meeting against both adversaries.
Kent State and Akron are separated by less than 30 minutes of road time, granting the Blue Hose a chance for back-to-back Mid-American Conference tests to prepare for Big South action later this month. Head coach
Eric Clakeley's squad recently hosted Boston University and Xavier in Clinton less than a week apart, headed to Ohio with a 1-3 overall record.
SCOUTING AKRON
- A string of four losses in a row has plagued the Zips following a season-opening blowout over Howard by 16 goals, coming up on the short end of several close matchups including a four-overtime thriller at Delaware State (a foe that PC bested in Dover three days later), a two-goal loss to St. Bonaventure, and another L decided by a single goal against St. Francis (Pa.) by the uncharacteristically-low final of 5-4.
- Akron was last seen taking an 18-10 defeat at the hands of Big South rep Gardner-Webb in their 2023 home debut, currently holding a +4 goal differential despite the 1-4 resume. Head coach Christy Mitchell's group faltered to a 2-15 record a year ago, this being the program's fifth year of competition. Over the Zips' four-game losing streak, the second-half goal count has been nearly even at 17-16.
SCOUTING KENT STATE
- Progressing through an equally-turbulent campaign over the season's first month, the Golden Flashes take a 3-4 record into Thursday's duel against the Blue Hose, currently two games down into five straight on their home field.
- Kent State, under the direction of head coach Brianne Tierney, has scored at least 15 times in all three of their victories (over Duquesne by one, Butler by five, and Delaware State by 10), however will take on Presbyterian after a 12-9 setback to St. Francis (Pa.) last Friday, a bout that saw a stalemate second half once the visitors built a 7-4 lead at intermission.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Blue Hose have shown a high level of grit during their two home matchups with the Terriers and Musketeers, falling 15-6 in the former and 14-11 in the latter. A one-goal advantage for Presbyterian midway through the second period suddenly turned to a six-point sprint by Xavier that bled into the 3
rd on March 4, giving PC a 10-day break between meetings.
- Junior midfielder
Kylie Sullivan earned her most impressive performance in a Blue Hose uniform during the close loss, scoring four times beside seven shot-on-goal looks. Elsewhere,
Willow Hammond and
Abby Edmisten combined for nine total points (four goals, five assists) between them, opening the door for five different PC players to strike.
- A fourth-year offensive workhorse that has led the squad in scoring since she was a sophomore, Edmisten sits on the precipice of Blue Hose history should she reach a pair of goals tomorrow against Akron, just two away from hitting 100. In doing so, the Georgia native would join Catherine Ellis (2011-14) as the only two PC performers to hit the century mark, already in fourth-place in the school record books for total points (121).
- A link to live statistics for Tuesday's contest at Akron has been provided below, as well as a live video link for the ensuing bout with Kent State 48 hours later.
PC vs. Akron – Live Stats:
https://gozips.com/sidearmstats/wlax/summary
PC vs. Kent Stats – Live Video:
https://boxcast.tv/view/kent-state-lacrosse-vs-presbyterian-31623-ywpbvu671qwd16saoe2s
