OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami soccer team battled from a second half deficit and dictated play down the stretch, but a late Akron goal proved the difference in a 2-1 setback on Sunday.
Sunday served as Miami's (3-11-1, 1-7 Mid-American) Senior Day as it honored
Tori Christiansen,
Kirsten Fehlan,
Patricia Koutoulas and
Bianca Medancic prior to kickoff.
First half action saw Miami race out with the first four shots and end up with a 7-5 lead in that category.
Lyda Bogdanovitch had three of those attempts, including a couple on goal that were stopped by Erin McKinney. The Zips had the closest opportunity as a long distance shot by Lexie Kolano dipped off the post, but stayed out as the contest remained scoreless at the break.
The Red & White fired 10 more shots in the second half, but it was the Zips who broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute. Erica Schrader played a long ball into the box that connected with Carly Pcholoinsky in front for a header that found the back of the net.
Miami responded by pushing numbers forward and answered that tally in the 61st minute when
Lydia Brosnahan headed home her second goal of the season off a corner kick service from
Jordan King. MU continued to dictate on the attack looking to pull ahead Brosnahan had another crack at a header off a corner kick in the 77th minute, but that bid went just wide. Another header opportunity was presented in the 87th minute as
Soph Spinell played Bogdanovitch in front, but that try was also wide.
It appeared the contest was heading for overtime until Sydney Worthy got free down the left side and dribbled in front of the net.
Lauren Parker made a remarkable stop at close range, but Angela Boyce got to the rebound and put it in to give UA the 2-1 lead. MU got a late free kick opportunity, but a late shot attempt went just over the net as Akron held on.
The RedHawks outshot the Zips 17-12 on the afternoon while having a slight (4-3) edge in corner kicks. McKinney stopped six shots for Akron while Parker finished with two saves for Miami.
Miami has a short week to prepare for a road trip to Michigan as it takes on Eastern Michigan on Thursday at 4 p.m.
