OXFORD, Ohio – Needing a win to keep its postseason hopes alive, the Miami soccer team got an early lead and added insurance in the second half to top Kent State 2-0 on Sunday.

Prior to the kickoff, the RedHawks (4-12-1, 3-6-1 Mid-American) honored seniors Olivia Winnett and Reagan Fleck and responded with a win that keeps their MAC Tournament hopes alive.

The Golden Flashes (5-9-3, 3-5-2 MAC) peppered a few shots on frame early on that Izzie Vaccari was up to the task to stop. One of the early bids came from Karly Hellstrom, who got free on the right side, but Vaccari stopped her at close range to keep the ball out.

In the 11th minute, Miami caught a break when Olivia Winnett chipped a ball into the middle of the box that hit a Kent State defender and redirected in for an own goal, giving the RedHawks their second first half goal of the year.

KSU outshot MU by a 10-4 count in the opening half and nearly evened the score in the 26th minute when Cameron Shedenhelm got into the box at the left side and belted a shot that narrowly went above the crossbar. Despite the shot advantage for Kent State, Miami's early goal held as the only marker at the break.

The Golden Flashes attempted to press matters for an equalizer in the second half. It nearly paid off in the 51st minute when Shedenhelm won a foot race to a loose ball near the 18 and lofted a shot over Vaccari that also went a hair over the net. Another close call came in the 58th minute as Vital Kats drew a foul just outside the box for a close range free kick. Kats' bid hit the post and a subsequent corner kick was defended away by the Red & White.

Not content to nurse a one-goal lead, Miami got some possession at the other end and after blocking off a Kent State outlet, Kennedy Gray went to work and stepped into a high 30-yard shot that curved into the upper 90 at the right post. Her first career goal gave the RedHawks a 2-0 advantage in the 64th minute of play.

A Miami red card allowed Kent State a chance to push numbers ahead down the stretch and in the 79th minute a free kick and some set pieces tested Vaccari in goal, but she withstood the surge and preserved the shutout victory.

The Golden Flashes outshot the RedHawks 27-10 on the day and had a 6-3 lead in corner kicks, but Vaccari's 11 saves made the Red & White's tallies stand up.

Miami wraps up the regular season and vies for a berth in the 2019 MAC Tournament when it hosts Ball State on Thursday. Opening kick is at 3 p.m.