Box Score | PDF Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Kat Zalar's goal in the eighth minute of play proved all the offense necessary to give the Miami soccer team a 1-0 victory at Western Michigan on Sunday afternoon.

The RedHawks (7-5-1, 4-1-1 Mid-American) have now won three-straight matches and strengthen their position for next month's MAC Tournament.

With just 7:26 gone by, Zalar brought the ball in down the left flank, cut in and blasted a shot from the top of the box that blew by goalkeeper Makenzie Larson's right for her first goal of the season. Stephanie Dillon picked up an assist on the play.

"We got a good result today," head coach Bobby Kramig said. "Though we missed some real good chances, the kids made the early goal hold up. We took care of business down the stretch and got the shutout. We've built our reputation the last couple years of being good defensively and we made one early goal hold up, I'm proud of them. Kat's goal was a great strike. She got down the left side, cut in and cracked one from the top of the box. As soon as she hit it, we knew it was in. You knew it was coming with her. She's been close to scoring several times this year and she earned this one."

After allowing the first two shots of the afternoon, the Broncos (8-6, 2-4 MAC) countered with the next five in their effort to tie things up. Miami got an opportunity to extend its lead in the 37th minute when Zalar got behind the Western D, but the shot went wide to keep it a one-goal contest. The Broncos ended up outshooting the RedHawks 7-5 in the opening frame, but Zalar's tally stood as the lone marker to keep Miami on top 1-0 at the break.

Miami had some opportunities early in the second half to try and get some breathing room, but was unable to do so. The best bid came in the 59th minute when a chance by Shae van Gassen went off the goal post.

Following the near Miami miss, Western Michigan nearly evened the score when Alex Ruffer got a crack at the ball, but her shot hit the cross bar. The Broncos pushed players forward to create an equalizer and ended taking 12 more shots in the final 20 minutes of play. Despite being hemmed in on their own side of the field, the RedHawks would not relent and eventually sealed away the victory.

The Broncos late surge of shots at the end gave them a 22-10 edge in shot attempts while they also finished ahead 9-2 in corner kicks. Vic Maniaci made three saves in the first 53:34 before being lifted due to an injury, but Patricia Koutoulas stopped a shot in the final 36:26 to secure the shutout win. Larson turned away five of the six shots she faced at the other end.

Miami returns to Oxford for its final two regular season home matches next weekend, starting with a Friday afternoon tilt with Toledo at 4 p.m.