Sept. 13, 2009
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OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami women's soccer team used a three-goal spurt over a seven-minute stretch in the second half to overcome a slow start and earn a 3-1 comeback victory against visiting Xavier Sunday afternoon at Miami Soccer Field. The victory evened the all-time series with Xavier at 2-2, as the RedHawks have won each of the last two meetings.
The typically fast-starting RedHawks (3-2) looked sluggish out of the gates, as Xavier controlled possession early. The Musketeers (0-6) earned a free kick in the fourth minute and made it count as Leslie Boersma tallied her first goal of the season, placing the free kick from about 25 yards out over Miami senior keeper Krista Pace's (Toronto, Ont.) head and into the top right corner of the net for an early 1-0 lead.
The 'Hawks picked it up after the score, however, creating opportunities to even the match. Junior forward Sara Lund (Malmo, Sweden) sent a cross into the box that freshman midfielder Jess Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) looked to tap into the open net in the seventh minute, but a Musketeer defender deflected it over the crossbar. Later in the half, Miami again looked to even the count, as both senior forward Allison Berkey (Hopkinton, Mass.) and Kodiak had attempts on goal off a corner kick, but were unable to find the net, sending the RedHawks into the break down 1-0.
"I was disappointed with our first half," Miami head coach Bobby Kramig said. "I told the kids I was disappointed with the way they warmed up. I felt going in, watching them warm up, I questioned our preparation and where we were mentally and I think our first half backed that up. We need to take that away from this game - that we need to be on our game all the time. We need to be good all the time."
Xavier goalkeeper Jenny Rosen, making her first start of the season, stopped all five shots that came her way in the first 45 minutes, while Miami took 11 shots altogether. The Red and White also earned six corner kicks to the Musketeers' none, but couldn't get the ball past Rosen.
In the second stanza, Miami put the pressure on Xavier from the whistle as Berkey's sliding shot off a cross from junior Julie Thompson (Glenview, Ill.) just minutes in sailed over the crossbar, but the RedHawks finally found the equalizer in the 59th minute when senior forward Jodi Zwingelberg (Elgin, Ill.) chipped the ball over the Xavier defense and onto the foot of Berkey who blasted it by Rosen. It was Berkey's second tally of the season, equaling her career high already, while Zwingelberg garnered her second assist of 2009.
Just over four minutes later, Thompson found the back of the net for the second time this year, as senior Kersta Carlson (Plymouth, Minn.) crossed the ball into the box off a free kick from the endline that Thompson sent home for the game-winner. Lund then capped the outburst two minutes later when her shot deflected off a Xavier defender's head and into the goal for her second tally of the campaign. Carlson earned her second assist of the day on Lund's goal, giving her three in 2009 after not recording a single helper her first three years at Miami. Entering Sunday's match, the RedHawks had not scored a goal in the second half all season.
"At halftime, I was really impressed with our leadership as our juniors and seniors really got a grip on the team and got them refocused," Kramig said. "We turned it up a notch physically (in the second half). I thought our effort was better, our work rate was higher and we finished. In a game like this you just need that icebreaker. If you can get the one you're going to get the other ones. We got the game-winner and I was really pleased we got the third goal because that sealed the deal - something we didn't do at Eastern Illinois (Sept. 6 even though Miami still won, 2-1)."
The RedHawks tied a season high with 19 shots in the match, including eight on goal (all three on goal in the second half scored), while the Musketeers mustered just five shots with Pace making her only save in the second half. Pace has not allowed more than one goal in any contest this season. Miami also finished with a season-high 10 corner kicks without conceding one to Xavier.
Lund paced Miami with six shots, three on goal, while Berkey fired four shots and Carlson had three.
The RedHawks continue their three-game home stand Friday, Sept. 18, when they host the Dayton Flyers, also out of the Atlantic 10. Opening whistle is set for 5 p.m. at Miami Soccer Field. The game will commence Miami soccer's alumni weekend, which will also feature a home game Sept. 20 against Cleveland State.
--MURedHawks.com--
