By: Cody Carson
Kent, Ohio
If you hail from anywhere in Northeast Ohio, you know that the region faces long, harsh winters that can affect athletic events. This season has been in line with past years, as after the teams final date in the Kent State Field House, a scrimmage against Slippery Rock University, the first two games scheduled, road trips to Bowling Green and Akron, were postponed. The 2015 campaign and the teams Spring Break now kicks off with a round robin day on March 21st hosted by Slippery Rock with Penn State- Altoona, with game times slated for 4 PM vs SRU, and 5 PM vs Altoona. Both opponents are nationally ranked, and are making plenty of noise in the NCLL. Altoona, ranked 13th in the country, led a fall campaign resulting in a semi-final appearance at the Fall Brawl, and a title brought home at the Lock Haven University fall tourney. Kent and Altoona have never met in regular season or tournament play. Slippery Rock, who are ranked 8th, boast a 20-3 record over the past two seasons. The Kent programs last regular season encounter with the Pride of Slippery Rock ended in a 7-4 loss in a game played at Robert Morris University. The Golden Flashes have their work cut out for them as they have been unable to practice the entire month of March. With the weather beginning to break, and the football team beginning spring practice signaling the availability of the Dix Stadium turf for practice, will a max of three practices be enough to come out of a tough weekend with at least one win before conference play begins with three road games in five days against Cleveland State, Akron, and Bowling Green?