BOX SCORE

KENT, Ohio -- After taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, the Western Michigan had to fight off a Kent State comeback and battled the Golden Flashes to a 2-2 tie at the Kent State Soccer Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Broncos got the ball rolling in the 17th minute when a shot by Megan Matula hit off the cross bar. Sophomore midfielder Nikolette Rivera was there to clean up the rebound from 10 yards out. Rivera’s third goal of the season gave the Broncos an early 1-0 lead.

WMU extended its lead to 2-0 after Kelsey Carmichael headed in her second goal of the season. Caitlin Henderson served the ball in for Carmichael, picking up her third assist on the season. Matula also got an assist to give her the first multi-assist game of her career.

“We scored two fantastic goals and came out really strong in the first half,” said interim head coach Suzie Grech. “We had trouble matching their energy and physical play at times in the second half and unfortunately surrendered the lead.”

Kent scored goals in the 51st minute and then in the 88th minute to tie the game, 2-2. The first goal was a shot from 28 yards out and the second was flicked in off of a throw in with just 2:10 remaining.

Western Michigan goalkeeper Sarah Phillips made four of her career-high 12 saves during the two overtime periods to help secure the tie.

The Broncos come home to battle conference and state rivals Eastern Michigan on Friday at 3 p.m. and Central Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m.