Miami University
Florida International University
Late Heroics Propel RedHawks Past Panthers
9/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
MIAMI - Each and every goal the Miami soccer team has scored this season has come after halftime with all but one occurring in the final 10 minutes of regulation or overtime.
Sunday afternoon was no different as Shae van Gassen's 85th minute strike lifted the Red and White to a 1-0 win at Florida International.
"I told the team at halftime that the most courageous team was going to win this game and that's what happened for us," head coach Bobby Kramig said. "The remarkable things about this team are how they never quit and that they have a knack for scoring goals late in the game. That speaks to their competitiveness and never say die attitude."
Shots were aplenty on both sides over the first 20 minutes of play, with MU (2-3) attempting five and FIU (0-4-1) four in that span. All of the Panthers' were on target, but Vic Maniaci continued her stellar weekend with stops on each try. The Red and White had a couple opportunities starting in the 18th minute as Amy Malone launched a free kick wide and had another look off a corner kick in the 20th minute that Sophia Trujillo stopped.
After ceding four of the first six shot attempts, the RedHawks controlled possession the remainder of the opening frame by taking seven of the final nine shots. None of those found the net, however, as the contest remained scoreless at the break.
"We played a very good first half and had a lot of chances that we couldn't convert," Kramig said. "In the second half, Friday night started showing up as FIU had an extra day of rest. We weathered the storm and got going down the stretch."
The Panthers took the bulk of the shot attempts over the first 22 minutes of the second half, firing six of the nine shots to even the category up at 12 apiece by the 78th minute. Like in the first half, MU began to wear FIU down with its possession and began threatening in the attacking third.
In the 85th minute, that attack bore fruit as Sam Worthman got to the end line and served a cross into the middle to the oncoming head of van Gassen. The junior transfer from Schoolcraft was true on her redirection for her first NCAA goal to put the RedHawks on the scoresheet with 5:59 left in regulation. From there, Miami's defense smothered Florida International's attempts to answer, not even allowing a single shot in the final six minutes.
"Sam broke down the defense down the right side and Shae beat the defender to the ball and buried a great header," Kramig said. "That was a first rate goal."
"Sam got to the end of a clearance and played a great cross right to my head at the front post and the goalkeeper dove the opposite way," van Gassen said. "It definitely helps my confidence to get that first goal and do what I'm supposed to do to help the team by putting one in the net."
Miami ended up owning a 15-12 advantage in shots for the day, with nine of their attempts on goal. The RedHawks also had a slim 4-3 edge in corner kick attempts. Maniaci picked up her first win and solo shutout of the season by stopping all six shots she faced while Trujillo saved eight of the nine shots that came her way.
The RedHawks wrap up their non-conference schedule next weekend with their next contest a road tilt at Illinois on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
