Oct. 24, 2003
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - The RedHawk defense held Butler to just two shots as Miami University's women's soccer team defeated the Bulldogs, 3-0, in a non-conference match Friday afternoon at Miami Soccer Field.
Miami's (6-8-1) defense stifled the BU (7-7-2) attack, allowing just a pair of first-half shots in front of senior keeper Emily Smith (Louisville, Ky./Male). Smith, making her first career start, earned the shutout on Senior Day. The RedHawks outshot Butler, 24-2, including 14-0 in the second half, while gaining the 8-1 edge in corner kicks.
Junior Laura Freel (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) scored, what proved to be the game-winning goal, in the 27th minute. Freshman Kathleen Vistica (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) took the ball down the right side, before sending a centering pass to Freel for the first of her two assists on the day. From the top of the six-yard box Freel was able to tuck a shot past Butler keeper, Megan Cappa, for her first goal of the season.
The Red and White struck again in the 32nd minute, this time from junior Ashley Swinehart (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington). Swinehart scored her team-high 13th goal of the season, unassisted, on a blast from 15 yards out. After collecting a loose ball, she sent her shot upper far post to give Miami a 2-0 lead.
Miami put the game away, for good, in the 84th minute. On a Swinehart flip throw-in, Vistica flicked a ball from the near post to the far post where classmate, Kate Padfield (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) was able to head the ball into the back of the net.
Smith saw very little action in the net, as Butler was unable to register a shot on goal. Her counterparts, Cappa and Katie Sanders split time, made five and three saves, respectively, as the RedHawks forced 11 shots on the Bulldog net.
The Red and White closes its MAC season with a league contest against Akron on Sunday at Miami Soccer Field. Post-season hopes will be on the line when the two teams kick off at 1 p.m.
Notes: For the RedHawks to qualify for the MAC Tournament, Miami must defeat Akron on Sunday, and Bowling Green must lose or tie Marshall on Sunday and Toledo must lose or tie to Ohio on Sunday ... Swinehart's assist was her second of the season, with both coming on flip throw-ins.
