Miami Soccer Wins ACC Opener Over N.C. State
Sept. 27, 2007
Coral Gables, Fla. – A pair of freshmen scored goals to lead the University of Miami women’s soccer team past N.C. State, 2-1, on Thursday evening at Cobb Stadium, as the Hurricanes open their challenging Atlantic Coast Conference schedule with a commanding win.
It was the first victory for the `Canes (5-2-2, 1-0 ACC) over the Wolfpack (5-2-2, 0-1 ACC), as Miami prepares to take on defending national champions and seventh-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 30, at Cobb Stadium at 1 p.m.
Miami freshman Brittney Steinbruch (Wyckoff, N.J.) drilled in the game-winning goal versus N.C. State in the 61st minute. Junior Sammy Sanderson (Columbus, Ohio) and freshman Lauren Singer (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) sent the ball from midfield to Steinbruch, who raced up the right side of the field and shot the ball from the corner of the penalty box into the far left side of the goal to register her 10th score in her ninth college game.
With that goal, Steinbruch jumps into a tie for third place in single-season goals and moves into a tie for 10th place in career goals in just her first season of college ball.
After a strong offensive effort by the Wolfpack early in the game, including three shots – with two on goal – in a 30-second span in the fourth minute, Singer got the Hurricanes on the board in the 40th minute. Steinbruch took a shot on goal that Wolfpack keeper Sydney Little managed to deflect, but UM freshman Brittney Macdonald (Littleton, Colo.) wrangled in the rebound and Singer fired it into the net for her seventh goal of the season.
“It’s huge for us to win this ACC opener, and helps build our confidence as we head deeper into conference play,” said Miami head coach Tricia Taliaferro. “It took dedication from the whole team, with everyone playing together. It was our goal to win the first and to now build off of it.”
The Wolfpack prevented a shutout, with a goal by Jessica O’Rourke in the 90th minute. She emerged from a scramble in front of the net and headed in a pass from Chantalle Dugas over a defender into the left post.
Miami edged N.C. State 15-14 in shots and used a strong defensive effort – including key stops by Macdonald and sophomore Jessica Wyble (Potomac, Md.) – to overcome a 7-1 Wolfpack advantage in corner kicks.
Senior goalkeeper Lauren McAdam (Simsbury, Conn.) picked up her fourth win of the season for the Hurricanes, grabbing five saves in 90 minutes of work. Little took the loss, collecting seven saves in the effort.
