BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Ky. – Kent State forward Annie Messer’s goal in the 83rd minute sent the Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team to a 1-0 defeat on Friday night. The Colonels (2-4-1) have now dropped three straight while the Golden Flashes (3-4) picked up their first win since late August.

“It’s disappointing to lose in the last six minutes of a match,” head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. “The frustrating part is that we’re in every game we play. We can’t expect our defense not to give up goals. We just need to be scoring on the other end.”

Other than a Kent State goal wiped out by an offsides penalty, the first half of Friday’s match was a defensive battle. EKU keeper Stephanie Lynch made five saves in the half, while KSU keeper Kelly Sherwood recorded four stops.

The second half played out much the same way until, with just seven minutes remaining in the match, KSU midfielder Catharine Marosszeky headed the ball to Messer who headed it into the net from about 10 feet out for the game-winner.

Lynch allowed just one goal and made nine saves on the night. After colliding with a KSU defender, she was forced to leave the game with a bloody nose. It is the first time all season the sophomore keeper has left a game. Freshman goalie Amanda Carta took her place and did not allow a goal.

EKU was only out shot on the night 14-11.

“The stats show that we’re in every match we play,” Basalyga said. “We just need to get it together on the offensive end. We are very capable of creating opportunities on the attack. When that starts to happen, it’s going to be scary.”

The Colonels return to action on Sunday at Radford. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.