KENT, OHIO - The St. Bonaventure women's soccer team (0-1) traded goals with Kent State (1-0) this afternoon only to come up short, falling 3-2 in the season opener. The game was the first for new head coach Steve Brdarski at the helm of the Bonnies. 

Senior Megan Junker started in goal for the Brown and White. She started in six games last season posting a 3-3 record with a .757 save percentage and a 1.55 goals against average.

The teams traded shots over the first 15 minutes before Jessaca Gironda served a corner kick to Madison Helterbran of Kent State who connected with a header that found its way past Junker to start the scoring.

The Bonnies began to put heavy pressure on the Golden Flashes in the 24th minute. Sophomore Gabriella Balseca entered the game and immediately found herself in the middle of the action. She sent a header on goal forcing Stephanie Senn to make a save. Just over a minute later, Junior Brittany Charles, the Bonnies' 2012 assist and overall points leader, sent an indirect kick towards the goal mouth and found the head of Senior Jordan Calabria who re-directed the ball home to tie the score.

Kent State would not allow the Bonnies to take a tie into halftime however as Gironda would place yet another corner kick in perfect position for a teammate to convert. This time it was Jenna Hellstrom tallying the score to give the Flashes a 2-1 advantage in the 33rd minute. Kent State would take that 2-1 lead into the break.

At halftime the teams each had tallied five shots. Kent State held a major advantage with seven corner kicks to the Bonnies' three. Junker made just one save for the Brown and White while the Bonnies forced Senn to make two saves.

With Sophomore goalkeeper Christina Sarokon now between the pipes, St. Bonaventure would strike first in the second half. Following a yellow card to the Flashes' Calli Rinicella, Calabria found Senior midfielder Alyssa Lapp who converted her first score of the season in the 66th minute, tying the game for the second time.

Kent State would answer back in the 77th minute however when Hellstrom picked up her second score of the game thanks to a helper from Madison Heltebran.

Trailing 3-2, the Bonnies had plenty of opportunities in the final four and half minutes. Abby Maiello and Lauren Hill each fired shots. The Bonnies also had a pair of corner kicks down the stretch but were unable to convert and ultimately would succumb to the 3-2 score.

Sarokon would make two saves in the second half, allowing just the one goal. St. Bonaventure would outshoot the Golden Flashes 13-12 for the game. Kent State held a staggering 11-5 corner kick advantage.

The Bonnies now move on to a Wednesday (Aug. 28) matchup with Little Three rival Canisius. St. Bonaventure's second straight road game to start the season will kick off under the lights at 7 p.m. The Bonnies open up McGraw-Jennings Field in a Friday (Aug. 30) doubleheader with the men's team beginning at 3 p.m.