Oct. 15, 2010
Box Score
By Drew Davis
OXFORD, Ohio - For the second-straight year, the Miami University women's soccer team defeated rival Ohio University (5-6-3, 2-3-2 Mid-American Conference) in overtime as sophomore Jess Kodiak lifted the RedHawks (11-4-1, 4-2-1 MAC) to a 1-0 win Friday evening with a game-ending goal just 4:33 into the extra period. Freshman goalkeeper Kris Gasparovic picked up her fifth win and fourth shutout of the year.
Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard through regulation as both defenses limited scoring chances. When the second half ended, Ohio had taken eight shots, five of which were on goal, while Miami had managed just seven total shots and three on goal.
"They are a very fast and talented team," head coach Bobby Kramig said of the Bobcats. "Especially on defense. Their defense was able to keep up and match our speed."
Miami created scoring chances in the first half getting four corner kicks and taking five shots, but the Ohio defense cut off any opportunity the RedHawks had.
Kramig credited his defense and goalkeeper for preventing Ohio from gaining an advantage during regulation. In the second half, the Bobcats placed four of their six shots on goal, forcing Gasparovic to work hard to preserve the shutout.
"You have to start with the back. Gasparovic threw the shutout. She played very well with her feet as she's been doing throughout the course of the year," Kramig said. "Our whole back four did a good job of dealing with their speed. It felt like we were under pressure for a long time, and our back four held it together and did a great job."
In the overtime period, neither team was able to gain the upper hand until the 95th minute when the RedHawks executed a transition play that started on their own end.
Miami gathered the ball near midfield on their own half and sent a long, high pass to the left side, over the Ohio defense. Junior Giselle Mangal made a run, beating the Bobcats to the ball and settled it at the top left corner of the box. She turned, dribbling toward center and fired a shot toward the goal. Her shot got past the Ohio keeper, but hit the right post. It bounced back toward Kodiak who used a sliding shot to bury it in the back of the net for the game-winner.
"How about Jess Kodiak. What a goal there at the end," Kramig said. "It's exciting because we practiced that exact scenario yesterday in practice. Kodiak made a really strong run from midfield and got there at the right place, at the right time. I'm really happy for her."
The MAC East leading RedHawks are back in action Sunday at 1 p.m. against Akron at the Miami Soccer Field in their final home game of the regular season.
