Miami University
Central Michigan
Miami's First Victory Comes in Overtime Thriller
10/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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OXFORD, Ohio -- Miami University soccer picked up their first victory of the season Friday in a back-and-forth thriller against Central Michigan that full time could not decide. The RedHawks improve to 1-12-1 (1-5-1 Mid-American) with the overtime win.
Despite playing a very defensive first half, the `Hawks still came out on top in the goal column. Their offensive approach was clear: get the ball to a sprinting Soph Spinell down the right side so she can cross it into the box. After some unsuccessful attempts, the they found pay dirt in the 38th minute. Coming into position to receive Spinell's cross was senior Chloe Knue, who tapped it in right-side for her first score of the season.
"Soph did the game plan perfectly and Chloe was right there on the finish," said head coach Hugh Seyfarth.
Now with a lead going into the second half, the RedHawks turned up the pressure. Sophomore Lydia Brosnahan and the rest of the defensive back line spoiled almost everything the Chippewas could throw at them. Junior goalie Patricia Koutoulas stepped up as the last line of defense by making three saves each in the first and second halves.
That strong back line faltered late, though, when CMU junior Madison Costner blazed into the right side of the box untouched and buried one in the 86th minute to send it to extra time.
"That was a tough pill to swallow, but what our team has gone through prepared them for that," said Seyfarth. "We've endured so many rough games that we didn't get anything out of, but we played hard and had that inner drive, inner commitment, and inner belief to say, `We're going to win this game.'"
They did just that. Following a penalty on the right side of the box, senior Amy Malone dumped a free kick towards a crashing Brosnahan who headed it in to deliver the first Miami win of the year.
"A great ball by Amy, and Lydia, deservedly so, is the `man of the match,'" Seyfarth said.
Miami looks to continue their momentum with another home Mid-American Conference game on Sunday. They will face off with Eastern Michigan at 1 p.m.
