Miami University
University of Miami
Maniaci Stands Tall, but RedHawks Drop Tilt to Hurricanes
9/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Despite getting outshot by a three to one margin, the Miami University soccer team held tough with the nation's highest scoring team, but ultimately dropped a 1-0 decision to the University of Miami on Friday night.
Friday's setback drops the Red and White to 1-3 on the season while the Hurricanes are now 4-1.
"Overall, I thought we played a heck of a game tonight," head coach Bobby Kramig said. "We had the contest right where we wanted it. The goal in games like this is to put yourself in position to make a play at the end and we did that. I'm very proud of the kids tonight. They were composed and did their job. They were not at all bothered by the level of competition we faced and you can't ask for more than that. The team is very comfortable playing at this level and that is a huge hurdle to get past."
The RedHawks had the bulk of the early possession, taking three of the first four shots. The cleanest look was a free kick from about 22 yards out that went wide in the early going. UM had the most dangerous early chance in the ninth minute when Grace Rapp hit the post on a shot inside the box, leaving the contest scoreless.
In the 16th minute, the Hurricanes grabbed a lead when Dejah Cason cleanly headed in a cross from Kristina Fisher to make it a 1-0 contest. UM found its possession game as the half wore on, attempting 10 of the last 12 shots of the frame. Other than the Cason marker, none of those chances found the back of the net as the score remained 1-0 at halftime.
About 10 minutes into the second half, the Red and White put together a couple scoring opportunities in a row. Jenna Weiner got possession in the box on the right side and fired a shot that deflected off a defender and out of play for a corner kick. The attempt found the head of Dana Miller, who redirected a shot that went just wide of the net.
The Hurricanes continued to pour on the pressure in the attacking third to try and get an insurance goal, but Vic Maniaci caught fire in the second half, where she made seven of her nine saves. Several of which were of the spectacular variety as she made a leaping deflection on a Shannon McCarthy and a solid read on a shot off a cross by Grace Rapp among other solid stops.
Like in some of its earlier contests, Miami appeared to find some late scoring magic yet again when the ball found the foot of Olivia Winnett with an apparently wide open net in the middle. The overtime hero from the team's win over Western Kentucky, Winnett played it directly towards the net, but UM defender Danielle Savage came from across the net to slide in and clear the shot away right at the goal line to keep the Hurricanes in front. That attempt was the last shot the Red and White got as it dropped the one-goal decision.
The Hurricanes ended up outshooting the RedHawks by a 27-9 margin. UM also took five corner kicks to MU's two. Maniaci turned away nine of 10 shots, but fell to 0-2 on the season while Phallon Tullis-Joyce stopped both shots she faced and had some help from the aforementioned Savage.
MU finishes off its Florida swing when it takes on Florida International at noon on Sunday.
