KENT, Ohio – The Miami University field hockey team (7-6, 2-1 MAC) dropped a heartbreaker at Kent State on Friday, falling by a 3-2 margin, despite taking 20 shots compared to the Golden Flashes seven.

Miami earned the first offensive chance of the game as Kylie Herb ran up the middle of the field with the ball, only for her shot to be saved by Azure Fernsler. Lexi Silver had the next two shots of the game go wide, including a deflection, as the game remained scoreless through the first five minutes.

Each team earned a penalty corner in the first quarter but neither team scored in the first 15 minutes.

The RedHawks earned another penalty corner just a couple minutes into the second quarter but Fernsler came up with a second save, this time on the shot from Leonor Berlie.

Isabelle Perese stopped the initial shot on a Kent State penalty corner in the 22^nd minute of play before Marie Gorner recorded a defensive save to keep the Golden Flashes off the board.

Fernsler made another stop before Miami was able to get onto the scoreboard first. Berlie scored her eighth goal of the season during the 24^th minute of play on the direct penalty corner feed from Kirsten McNeil and Noor Breedijk.

Just one minute later, Kent State tied the game after the ball bounced around the circle after a penalty corner chance. This was the first goal against Miami during conference play this season. 
The two teams took the 1-1 tie into halftime, with the RedHawks leading 7-5 in shots.

Kent State broke the tie with a goal in the 35^th minute of play on the first shot of the second half by either team. Perese made a diving play on the ball but it bounced directly to the stick of a Golden Flash.

In the final five minutes of the third quarter, Miami took four shots and earned a penalty corner opportunity but three more saves by Fernsler preserved Kent State's 2-1 lead going into the final quarter of play.

Kent State changed its goalkeeper before the fourth quarter with Mary Crumlish entering the game.

The RedHawks earned a penalty corner to begin the fourth quarter but Crumlish saved two Miami shots and a third one went wide as Kent State continued to lead 2-1 despite Miami having the 14-6 lead in shots.

Miami continued to pour on the offense but it was Kent State who scored the next goal of the game to increase its lead during the 52^nd minute of play, capitalizing on numbers after Miami earned a penalty corner. This was the Golden Flashes only shot of the fourth quarter.

The RedHawks scored the final goal of the game in the last minute of play. Berlie capitalized on a penalty corner feed from McNeil and Gorner for her second of the game and ninth of the season.

Miami outshot Kent State by a 20-7 margin and led in shots on goal 12-6 and penalty corners 9-4. Kent State's goalkeeping duo combined for 10 saves on the afternoon. Berlie led the field with eight shots and five shots on goal.

The RedHawks return to Oxford to host No. 8 Virginia on Sunday at noon for international student appreciation day.