Orange Prepare for First-Ever Meeting with Kent State

Syracuse (3-4-0, 0-0-0 ACC) vs. Kent State (3-3-1, 0-0-0 MAC)
Game Details	6 p.m. \| Thursday, Sept. 13 Syracuse, N.Y. SU Soccer Stadium
Game Coverage	Live Coverage: Stats \| Watch Twitter: @cusewsoc Instagram: @cusewsoc
Syracuse Links	Game Notes News Roster Schedule Statistics
Kent State Links	News Roster Schedule Statistics

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After four consecutive road games, the Syracuse women's soccer team is back home.

The Orange look to snap a two-match losing streak when they host Kent State in the first-ever meeting between the two programs at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13 at SU Soccer Stadium. The match will be televised on ACC Network Extra via WatchESPN.

LAST TIME OUT
Sophomore midfielder/forward Kate Hostage scored her team-leading third goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 78th minute, but Syracuse could not overcome a three-goal deficit, suffering a 3-1 setback at Colgate last Sunday.

The Raiders drew first blood right before halftime, as Colgate's Abby Sotomayer scored via a penalty kick goal in the 41st minute.

Colgate extended its lead to as much as three in the second half. Sage Digiulio's goal in the 49th minute was the game-winner, and Sotomayer tacked on her second of the match in the 77th minute to build the lead to 3-0.

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?
The Orange are letting the dogs out at SU Soccer Stadium.

Syracuse invites fans to bring their dogs to the stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, when the team plays Kent State in the final non-conference contest of the season. In addition, the first 100 students in attendance receive a free hot dog.

Dogs must enter through the main gate and always be on a leash. Suggested sections for fans to sit with their dogs will be marked. Dog owners must also bring documentation from their veterinarian showing vaccination records, as well as license and registration.

Syracuse University venue guidelines do not permit dogs for events outside of 'Doggy Day," with the exception of registered service animals.

HOSTAGE SCORES WITH A PURPOSE
Two of Hostage's team-high three goals this season are game-winners.

She headed home the match-winning goal in the 64th minute at UConn to give 'Cuse a 2-1 win. Her goal off a penalty kick in the 27th minute against St. John's was the lone score in Syracuse's 1-0 win.

BRONZE LOOKS GOOD ON ORANGE
Junior midfielder Georgia Allen scored the match-winning goal in penalties to help England beat France and claim a bronze medal at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup this past summer. Allen was away from the Orange and missed the team's first three matches this year while she was representing her home country of England at the U20 World Cup in France.

England went 2-0-1 in group stage play, defeating North Korea and Mexico and settling for a draw against Brazil. The Young Lionesses advanced to the quarterfinals, where they beat the Netherlands, 2-1. Allen was in England's Starting XI for the match against the Netherlands, playing all 90 minutes.

England lost 2-0 vs. Japan in the semifinals, ending its run for the World Cup title and setting up its date with France in the third-place match.

Allen, originally from Suffolk, England, is a familiar face on the Young Lionesses squad, first competing for England in 2011 as part of the U15 team. Allen, who started 10 of the Orange's 18 matches last season and led the midfielders with four points, played 33 minutes in her 2018 season debut at Harvard.

She made her first start of the year at Northeastern and scored the game-winner in the 83rd minute.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State enters 3-3-1 overall following a 3-2 win vs. Morehead State.

The Orange have never faced Kent State. The Golden Flashes are 3-7-3 all-time against ACC schools and tied Pitt, 1-1, earlier this season.

HEAR IT FROM COACH WHEDDON
"[Kent State] plays direct. They push the ball forward, they chase and press, they're athletic, they're good at set pieces. They'll be a hard-working, physical team. The ball is going to be in the air an awful lot, and the challenge for us will be to get the ball on the ground. It'll be a good test for us."

WHAT LIES AHEAD
The Orange start the ACC portion of their 2018 schedule at home against Duke Sunday, Sept. 16. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Syracuse is 0-2-1 all-time against Duke and has lost the previous two meetings. The Orange and the Blue Devils battled to a 2-2 draw in the first-ever meeting (Sept. 22, 2013) between the two programs.

For complete coverage of Syracuse women's soccer, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Soccer), Twitter (@CuseWSOC) and Instagram (@CuseWSOC).

Orange Prepare for First-Ever Meeting with Kent State

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Players Mentioned

Georgia Allen

Kate Hostage

Syracuse University Athletics