Oct. 24, 2010
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Senior Sara Lund scored early but Western Michigan evened the match in the second half as the Miami University women's soccer team tied the Broncos, 1-1, in double overtime Sunday afternoon at the WMU Soccer Complex. With the draw, the RedHawks (11-6-2, 4-4-2 Mid-American Conference) clinched a berth in the upcoming eight-team MAC Tournament, as did WMU (8-6-4, 4-2-4 MAC), while Miami still leads the East Division by a point over Akron with one game remaining in the regular season.
"I thought for us it was a hard-fought, well-earned tie on the road. It's a difficult playing surface, the wind was blowing like crazy and Western's a good team," head coach Bobby Kramig said. "For us to come out of there with a tie, especially with us playing short-handed without Katy Dolesh and Sam Whitmore for most of the game, we had to go to our bench and the kids gave us great minutes of the bench. It was a total team effort today."
Lund (Malmo, Sweden) got the 'Hawks on the board just 6:28 into the contest as she intercepted a Bronco pass 30 yards out from goal and went the other way on a breakaway. She beat WMU keeper Julia Francy to the left side for her first score of the season, putting Miami up 1-0. Lund earned another breakaway later in the half but was unable to put the ball on target.
Despite being out-shot 5-2 in the opening half, including Lund capitalizing on the RedHawks' only shot on goal in the first 45 minutes, Miami took its lead into the half. The Broncos also earned four corners in the opening period while the 'Hawks had none, but Miami was able to defend them all successfully.
After senior Julie Thompson (Glenview, Ill.) hit the crossbar in the 55th minute to keep it a one-goal game, Western Michigan found the equalizer in the 71st minute as Brittney Pavlica finished a pass from Megan Putnam in the back of the net to even the contest at 1-1. Anina Cicerone also picked up an assist on the play. Neither side would break the deadlock over the final 19 minutes, sending the match to overtime.
The Broncos were able to put a pair of shots from distance on target in the first extra session, but freshman keeper Madison Ryan (Marietta, Ga.) was not rattled, stopping both and forcing a second over time. Both sides battled for possession during the final 10 minutes but the game ended in a 1-1 stalemate with neither side able to get a shot off.
"It was a difficult game played mostly in the midfield. Both teams put in a good effort," Kramig said. "I was proud of our kids. We were really stretched with our substitutes and to not have two of our normal midfielders in the game, I thought given how short-handed we were it was a terrific effort by our kids, especially after a poor showing at Northern Illinois Friday."
WMU held an 11-7 edge in shots and 6-2 advantage in corner kicks for the match while Ryan ended with six saves and Francy stopped three RedHawk shots.
Miami wraps up the regular season Thursday, Oct. 28 at Bowling Green. With a win, the 'Hawks would clinch the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament and the outright MAC East title. A tie and an Akron loss or tie Thursday against Ohio would also give Miami the East title and the second seed. With a loss, the RedHawks would land as the No. 7 seed.
--MURedHawks.com--
