By Jonathan Hicks, Contributor
Brittany Reed recorded a double hat trick in Kennesaw State’s 12-0 blowout win over Alabama A&M in the season opener Friday.
The Owls led 7-0 at halftime with Reed claiming five goals in the first 25 minutes. The junior finished with a total of six goals after netting her final goal in the 56 minute. Reed set a new KSU record for most points and goals in a single game with 12 points and six goals against the Bulldogs.
“You know she’s always going to give 100 percent when she’s on the field,” KSU head coach Rob King said of Reed. “I wouldn’t want to mark her.”
The Owls started the scoring in the second minute with a goal off a corner by Reed. Cassidy Kemp was the game’s second leading scorer with two goals while three other Owls scored during the contest, including a stunner from midfielder Hannah Churchill from a free kick.
KSU lined up in a 4-3-3, a formation that relies on a lot of interplay on the wings and speed. The offensive nature of the formation showed through with the Owls taking a total of 36 shots throughout the match. The majority of the game was spent in Alabama’s final third as KSU dominated possession from the start.
“I definitely think we’re at our strongest when we high press teams and don’t let them play out,” Churchill said. “I think this is a good building brick for our first game but we still have a lot we need to work on.”
Alabama A&M failed to gain a foothold in the match, mustering only a single shot in the entire 90 minutes. The overall defensive cohesion and understanding from a backline led by sophomores Abby Roth and Ida Hepsoe helped KSU showcase such suffocating defense.
Coach King was able to allow every player to get some minutes and build match fitness. “This game was one where we came with a game plan and we executed it,” King said. “That style and tempo is something that will be important for us this season.”
KSU travels to Atlanta to face Georgia State on Monday. “Georgia State is a good team, a lot of kids we know,” King said. “It’ll be a close game, but it’s a rivalry game and we’ll want to go down there and come away with a win.”
