Florence propels RedHawks to MAC Championship Game
11/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 2, 2007
OXFORD, Ohio - A penalty-stroke goal by Miami senior forward Taylor Florence late in the second half earned the MU RedHawks' field hockey team a 3-2 semifinal win over Kent State University and gave Miami a berth into tomorrow's Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game against top-seeded #15 Ohio University.
Florence's goal in the 67th minute was her second score of the game with both giving MU a one goal advantage. The Louisville, Kentucky native scored on a give-and-go off a penalty corner in the 47th minute with an assist from Elizabeth Gilroy, and gave the third-seeded RedHawks a 2-1 edge with 23 minutes to play.
MU junior Danielle Gaynor opened the game scoring when she netted a score off a penalty corner in the eighth minute with an assist from Gilroy. Kent State had goals from Libby Lame and Charlotte Muller to knot the contest at 2-2 before Florence's late-game heroics.
Junior Megan Stengel recorded four saves between the pipes for Miami, while KSU's Kara Copeland had five stops in a losing effort.
Miami outshot the second-seeded Golden Flashes 13-10 in the game, including a 10-5 advantage in the second stanza. The RedHawks also held a 9-to-8 advantage in penalty corners.
Kent State's impressive 2007 campaign comes to a close at 12-9 overall, while the RedHawks are 10-10 heading into Saturday's noon showdown with the 16-4 Bobcats.
Miami football fans attending Saturday's 3 p.m. game against the University at Buffalo are encouraged to show their support for RedHawk field hockey by attending the MAC Championship Game against Ohio.
Field hockey fans can park in the Millett West Lot on Saturday and will not be charged for parking if they arrive before 12 noon.
