Sept. 11, 2009

Box Score

MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Miami women's soccer team had more opportunities to score than Morehead State Friday night at Jayne Stadium, but was unable to capitalize and fell to the Eagles, 1-0, in overtime. The RedHawks (2-2) lost to the Eagles (3-4-1) for the first time in series history, as the all-time series now stands at 5-1 in favor of Miami. The contest was also Miami's first overtime match of 2009, as the Red and White is now winless in its last 12 extra-period games.

"I thought overall we played pretty well. It's a very difficult place to go and play. The field's difficult, it's a tough environment, but I thought our kids did a nice job of rising up the challenge and overcoming some of those conditions," Miami head coach Bobby Kramig said. "We moved the ball, we created lots of opportunities and we defended well. I really felt like we played better, we just couldn't get the goal when we needed it."

The 'Hawks came out of the gates strong for a third straight game, firing three shots and earning a pair of corners in the opening 20 minutes, but Morehead State keeper Lily Meisner made a pair of saves to keep the game scoreless. Miami again put pressure on late in the first frame with a pair of shots in the final three minutes, but Meisner again denied the 'Hawks to send the game into halftime knotted at zero.

Miami out-shot the Eagles, 6-4, in the opening 45 minutes, but Meisner made five saves to keep the match scoreless, while both sides earned three corner kicks.

Junior forward Sara Lund (Malmo, Sweden) looked to break the deadlock early in the second half with a pair of shots in the first 10 minutes, including one that hit the post, but Miami was still unable to find the back of the net. Despite a near goal by senior forward Jodi Zwingelberg (Elgin, Ill.) late, the match remained even after 90 minutes, sending the RedHawks into their first overtime match of the season.

Miami blasted three shots and earned a corner in the first four minutes of extra time, but again the RedHawks were stifled. In the 100th minute, less than a minute from the end of the first overtime period, the Eagles' Bethany Davidson ended the match with her second goal of the season, sending home a rebound off a free kick. Junior Erin Adams, who ripped the free kick from about 40 yards out, earned the assist on the game-winning tally.

"I thought our kids played 100 minutes. They were still fit, they were still moving pretty well at the end of the game and we didn't play too many substitutes, so most of the girls played the whole game," Kramig said. "I thought our fitness held up very well for us tonight."

For the contest, Miami out-shot Morehead State, 16-13, and held an 8-5 edge in corners, including the only two in the extra period. Lund paced the RedHawks with five shots, while junior Julie Thompson (Glenview, Ill.) fired three shots, placing two on goal.

Meisner made eight stops for the Eagles, while senior keeper Krista Pace (Toronto, Ont.) gathered five saves for Miami, allowing just her third goal in nearly 370 minutes of action in 2009.

"We left them in it. We had opportunities to win this game and close this game out and we didn't take full advantage of it," Kramig said. "If you're going to leave a team in it, you give them an opportunity to stay in the game and they can come back and bite you, and that's pretty much what happened."

After facing three straight Ohio Valley Conference foes, the RedHawks return home to host Xavier (0-5), Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m. at Miami Soccer Field. The match begins a three-game home stand for Miami.

--MURedHawks.com--