Sept. 27, 2009

Box Score

KENT, Ohio - The Miami University women's soccer team was unable to find an equalizer in the second half on a windy, overcast Sunday afternoon at Kent State Soccer Field as an early goal by the Golden Flashes proved to be the difference maker in a 1-0 loss for the RedHawks. Miami (4-4-1, 0-1-1 Mid-American Conference) was shut out for just the third time this season while KSU (6-3-0, 2-0-0 MAC) evened the all-time series at 6-6-1.

The Flashes struck quickly, as junior midfielder Kellyn Flanagan scored her third goal of the season from eight yards out just 5:27 into the match on the first shot of the contest for either side. L.A. Thoma handed out the assist on the tally. Miami put some pressure on the Kent State defense in the 20th minute, earning a pair of corners and firing four shots over the next six minutes, but none reached goal.

"We gave up a silly goal just a few minutes into the game. Our heads weren't in it-not paying attention," Miami head coach Bobby Kramig said. "We were chasing the game from that point on, which was something we've worked hard to avoid this year and up until this point we've managed to do it."

The two sides played even the remainder of the half, as KSU took its one-goal advantage into the locker room. Miami held a slight, 5-4, edge in shots, while the Flashes earned an extra corner than the RedHawks. The only shot on goal of the half was Flanagan's score.

Miami controlled the action in the Kent State end in the second stanza but was only able to strike three shots as the 'Hawks struggled to get good looks. The RedHawk defense kept them in the game however, limiting the Flashes to just two shots over the final 45 minutes. Freshman Jess Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) took Miami's only shot on goal of the match in the 70th minute, but KSU keeper Kelly Sherwood made the stop to earn her fourth shutout of 2009. The 'Hawks earned a pair of corners in the final 10 minutes but senior Kersta Carlson's (Plymouth, Minn.) final attempt to tie the game in the 90th minute sailed high, as Kent State held on for the narrow victory.

"Kent is a very difficult place to play, but we have to take responsibility for this," Kramig said. "We knew going in this was a tough field to play on and we knew the adjustments we had to make because it's a smaller field (than we're used to). We need to do a better job of making those adjustments earlier in the game."

Both teams took eight shots for the game, which were the second fewest taken by Miami this season. The Red and White did garner seven corners to KSU's four, however. Sophomore Courtney Clarke (Scarborough, Ont.) led the RedHawks with two shots while Flanagan finished with three strikes to pace the Flashes, who put just two shots on goal in the match.

The RedHawks return to action next weekend with a pair of home MAC clashes. Miami hosts Toledo at 4 p.m. Friday (Oct. 2) while Bowling Green comes calling Sunday at 1 p.m.

--MURedHawks.com--