Sept. 19, 2003
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - Junior Ashley Swinehart (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington) scored his first career hat trick, with all three goals coming in the second-half, to propel Miami University's women's soccer team to a 3-1 win over Western Michigan, Friday night in Oxford.
It was a tale of two halves for the Red and White. After a lackluster first half, the RedHawks (2-3-1, 1-1 MAC) came out in the second half with new life and shut down the Bronco (2-4-1, 1-1 MAC) attack. WMU had the edge in the first half, ending the period with a 1-0 advantage and edging Miami in shots, 8-6.
"We were dissappointed with the first half," said head coach Bobby Kramig. "We were dissappointed with the enegery level, and we got down into a 1-0 hole."
Megan Urbats put Western Michigan on the board first with a soft chip shot over freshman goalkeeper Megan Ortner (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula). In the 28th minute, Urbats collected a turnover just outside the RedHawk box, and converted from 25 yards out.
After the intermission the momentum shifted as Miami dominated control of the ball, and allowed few opportunites for the Broncos to advance into the offensive third.
"(Our coaching staff) challenged the team at halftime," said Kramig. "We threw down the gauntlet and the team responded. It was a character test and they passed with flying colors."
Swinehart got the RedHawks on the board in the 74th minute, knotting the score at 1-1. Junior Megan Shapiro (Grosse Point, Mich./South) sent a corner kick into the box far post where a leaping Swinehart was able to one-time the ball off her knee and past Western keeper Kate Perz. It was the first second-half goal of the season for Miami.
The RedHawks got on the board again in the 81st minute, with what proved to be the game-winner, as Swinehart struck again. This time from freshman Kathleen Vistica (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) who sent a through ball to Swinehart, and on the breakaway she was able to beat the keeper from 15 yards out.
The nail in the coffin came in the final minute of action when Swinehart scored the hat trick, again from Vistica. Vistica had her breakaway shot deflected by Perz to the left where Swinehart was, and she put the ball into the net.
"This game is about us," Kramig added. "It's a commitment. You play this game for your teammates."
Miami controlled the second half and outshot the Broncos, 12-4, in the frame without allowing a shot on goal. Ortner made seven first-half saves and won her collegiate goalkeeping debut. After appearing in three games as a midfielder, and starting last Friday, Ortner became the first RedHawk woman to start a game both in the field and in goal in Miami soccer history.
Perz equalled Ortner with seven saves of her own in the loss.
The RedHawks will continue their weekend MAC homestand by hosting the Huskies of Northern Illinois on Sunday. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.
Notes: Danielle Berkemeier, who was on the bench for this evening's match, scored the last RedHawk hat trick on Nov. 8, 2002 in a MAC Semifinal match with Bowling Green ... Swinehart tied a school record for shots in a game (10) for the second time this season.
