Oct. 26, 2003
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - Junior Ashley Swinehart (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington) scored three goals, all in the first half, to lead Miami University's women's soccer team to a 4-1 victory over Akron in the teams' conference finale Sunday afternoon at Miami Soccer Field.
The RedHawks picked up where they left off against Butler on Friday, dominating control of the ball and forcing scoring opportunities. The Red and White outshot Akron, 16-9, including 9-2 in the second half. Miami also had a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
In the third minute of the match, Swinehart began the scoring on a one-timer from junior Megan Shapiro (Grosse Point, Mich./South). Fellow junior Laura Freel (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) began the play with a long outlet pass to Shapiro, who out ran the defense and sent a crossing pass to the far post. Swinehart was cutting to the goal and was able to send the ball past Akron keeper Meghan McCarthy.
Swinehart stuck again in the 13th minute, this time from freshman Kathleen Vistica(Monrovia, Md./Urbana). From the right side, Vistica sent a ball through the box to the streaking junior, who put a shot past the out-of-position keeper, into an open net for what proved to be the game-winner.
Akron struck back two minutes later, as Mirka Mohs sent a free kick into the box from 35 yards away. Leslie Bullen was able to come down with the ball and send a high shot at the far post. It looked as if freshman goalkeeper, Megan Ortner (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) was able to save the ball, but it found a way into the net, cutting the RedHawk lead to 2-1.
In the 28th minute, Swinehart added an insurance goal, clinching her third hat trick of the season. Freshman Aimee Prevallet (Fairfax Station, Centreville) collected a loose ball and dribbled around a pair of Zip defenders, before sending a pass to Swinehart. Swinehart one-timed the ball into the goal for her third score of the game, giving Miami a 3-1 halftime lead.
Vistica added a late goal to provide the 4-1 score, converting a penalty kick in the 82nd minute.
Ortner made six saves in the win, while McCarthy made four saves for Akron.
Despite the win, Miami was eliminated from contention for the final spot in the MAC Tournament with Bowling Green's 4-3, overtime win over Marshall. This marks the first time since 1998 the RedHawks will miss the league tournament.
The Red and White close out their season with a road match against Indiana on Friday, Oct. 31. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. in Bloomington, Ind.
Notes: With her third hat trick of the season, Swinehart set Miami records for hat tricks in a season and career (3) ... All three hat tricks have come in a single half, as well as during MAC games ... Swinehart has taken over the MAC lead in scoring, with 16 goals and 34 points ... The RedHawks' finished the season with 24 home goals, and will donate $1,200 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research as part of their "Kicks For Cancer" program.
