Miami University
Temple University
RedHawks Soar Past Owls for ETSU Invite Title
9/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 12, 2010
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - For the third straight game, sophomore Jess Kodiak and freshman Katy Dolesh both scored, as the duo led the Miami University women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Temple (3-4-0) Sunday afternoon in the ETSU Invitational at Summers-Taylor Stadium. With the win, Miami claimed the ETSU Soccer Invitational presented by DoubleTree Hotel championship, as the RedHawks (5-2-0) also defeated Winthrop on Friday to be the lone team to go 2-0 at the tournament.
In what is becoming a common occurrence, Miami struck early as Dolesh (South Euclid, Ohio) snuck in behind the Owls' defense and junior Courtney Clarke (Scarborough, Ont.) found her with a through ball that Dolesh finished to put the `Hawks up 1-0 just 2:43 into the match. Miami has scored a goal within the first seven minutes of the match in five of its seven games this season.
"Dolesh's goal was very well taken. She broke through from the midfield and she's so good at getting forward. She's got such great speed, once you get her behind the back four there's just no catching her," head coach Bobby Kramig said. "She finished her goal slotting it past the keeper who was trying to prevent the breakaway."
Despite some pressure from Temple, Miami was able to maintain its lead through the first half thanks to some strong play from senior goalkeeper Rachelle Boff (Naples, Fla.). In the 24th minute, Boff made a brilliant save to keep the Owls off the board as she deflected a sure goal onto the post, helping the RedHawks take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Miami held a 7-5 edge in shots in the opening period, putting a pair of shots on target, including the score, while Boff stopped both of TU's on-goal attempts in the first 45 minutes. The Owls had the lone corner kick of the half.
The teams came out of the break firing, trading shots in the opening 15 minutes, but again Boff came up large and prevented Temple from knotting the contest. She made a pair of saves in the first 12 minutes of the half and finished with three in the stanza.
"Boff was tremendous today. She saved three goals for sure and handled a couple of difficult crosses. She had an outstanding performance," Kramig said. "She deflected one shot from distance that was headed upper 90 and managed to put it around the post. She also made a fabulous save on a breakaway with about 20 minutes left. She was very good today. I'm really proud of her and I think the team rallied around her performance."
The `Hawks then widened the margin to 2-0 in the 65th minute as Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.), who was named the tournament's MVP, buried the ball in the back of the net from 10 yards out. Senior Rachel Byron (Elkhart, Ind.) earned the assist on the tally, her first of the season, while Kodiak's goal was her team-leading fifth of 2010. Miami has now scored at least two goals in all seven games in 2010, something not achieved since 1999.
"Jess Kodiak is a classy player. She's a skillful kid. She has great composure on the ball and is a really smart, clever player," Kramig said. "Her goal was absolutely beautiful. She flicked the ball up in the air over a defender's head and turned and finished it on the volley. It was brilliant."
In the 83rd minute, the Owls finally were able to get past Boff, as Allicia Yurkovic notched her fourth goal of the year from eight yards out to cut their deficit in half. Niki Conn picked up the assist on the goal. Temple would fire one more shot in the closing minutes but Miami's defense blocked it, as the RedHawks held on for the 2-1 win to clinch the tournament title.
In addition to Kodiak being named MVP, Dolesh and fellow freshman Kayla Zakrzewski (London, Ont.) were also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Despite the loss, the Owls finished with a slight, 14-13, edge in shots, but Boff saved five of TU's six shots on goal. Miami put seven shots on target as Gillian Kacsuta made five stops for Temple. The Owls also held a commanding, 7-2, advantage in corners, including six in the final period.
After wrapping up a six-game road swing, the RedHawks return home next weekend to host Eastern Illinois Friday, Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. before welcoming Evansville on Sunday, Sept. 19 for Senior Day at 1 p.m.
--MURedHawks.com--
