Oct. 9, 2015 Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio-- Freshman midfielder
Korrie Sauder's third goal on the season proved to be the difference as the Miami University soccer team defeated Ohio, 1-0, at home Friday afternoon.
Both teams started slow with neither being able to produce any chances that tested the opposing goalkeeper. The best chance for either team came in the 22nd minute when senior midfielder Haley Walter had a long run through the Bobcat defense before sending her shot just wide of the post.
The RedHawks (8-4, 4-1 Mid-American Conference) got on the scoreboard in the 35th minute when Sauder was able to put the ball past Ohio goalkeeper Taylor Smith from six yards out. The chance started when junior midfielder Stephanie Dillon took advantage of an Ohio mistake deep in the attacking zone. She played the ball to Walter in the box, who was able to turn away from a Bobcat defender before setting up Sauder in front of the goal.
Despite trailing at the half the Bobcats (4-8, 2-3 Mid-American) had long periods of possession and outshot the RedHawks, 5-4. An opportunity came for the Bobcats in the sixth minute when Megan Niebuhr headed the ball towards goal off a corner kick, only being denied by senior midfielder Jess Bronke heading the ball to safety. The Bobcats best chance to get on the scoreboard in the first half came when Carly Manso crossed the ball into the box where it landed at the feet of leading scorer Stephanie Rowland before defensive pressure caused her to mishit her shot.
Possession was dominated by the RedHawks in the second half and as a result they outshot the Bobcats 6-4, resulting in numerous chances for the home team.
The first chance came in the 53rd minute when Sauder received the ball on the left side of the box and quickly sent it across the field to the feet of junior midfielder Shannon Stearns who launched a shot that sailed just over the crossbar. A second chance came late in the half when sophomore midfielder Maggie Scott powered a shot from just outside the box that was kept out by a nice save by Smith.
The most dangerous moment for the RedHawks came in the middle of the half off a Bobcat throw in. The ball was thrown towards the goal and was redirected off of a RedHawk defender's head. The equalizer was only prevented thanks to quick reflexes by junior goalkeeper Vic Maniaci, preserving the team's sixth shutout on the season.
Ohio pushed forward late looking for an equalizer, but the Miami defense held strong preventing any chance for the Bobcats to develop. The RedHawks outshot the Bobcats 10-7 on the day with Maniaci capitalizing on both save opportunities that came her way.
The RedHawks take the field again on Sunday against Kent State at 1 p.m. in Oxford.
