Miami Set to Host Hurricane Cup
Sept. 3, 2009
CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami women’s soccer team will host the inaugural Hurricane Cup Sept. 4-6 at Cobb Stadium. The Hurricanes will welcome Dayton, Navy and Western Carolina to South Florida for the first-year event.
In a predetermined schedule, the Navy Midshipmen and the Dayton Flyers will open play on Friday, Sept. 4, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. The second game of the evening will get underway at 7:30 p.m. with the `Canes facing off against the Western Carolina Catamounts.
Two days later, the first match will feature Dayton vs. Western Carolina at 1 p.m., with Miami facing Navy at 3:30 p.m.
The Hurricanes (2-1-0), winners of two straight, received national recognition this week after freshman Kate Howarth was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week. The Grand Blanc, Mich. native was also named UM’s Muscle Milk Athlete of the Week for her performance on the field against Ball State, where she recorded a hat trick off the bench in the 5-1 victory.
Howarth leads all Hurricanes with her three goals, but already this season, six different players have scored in just three games. Last year only seven players scored over the course of the entire season. The 5-1 victory last Friday was also the most goals the `Canes have scored in a match since September of 2007.
The Catamounts head into the weekend with a 2-1-0 overall record, most recently dropping a 2-0 decision to South Carolina on the road. Western Carolina features three players who have each scored a goal this season, with Nikki Lombardo leading the way with a total of three points. In goal, WCU’s Caitlin Williams sports a 1.00 GAA and has recorded one shutout on the season.
Navy comes to Coral Gables with an unblemished 4-0-0 record and have outscored their opponents by a combined 17-3 margin, scoring six goals against each Francis Marion and Fairleigh Dickinson. Six players on the Midshipmen have score multiple goals on the year, with Christine Calderon and Bittany White each scoring three apiece.
Dayton is also undefeated, entering the weekend with a 2-0-1 record, with wins over Loyola Chicago and Middle Tennesse State. Their lone tie came at Auburn on the road on Aug. 28. Jerica DeWolfe is the main offensive threat for the Flyers, scoring three goals so far on the year.
