Women's Soccer Knocks Off FIU 3-2
Oct. 27, 1999
Coral Gables, FL – Freshman forward Allison McWhinney scored twice, including the eventual game-winner in the 86th minute, to lift the University of Miami women’s soccer team (11-7) to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over cross-town rival Florida International (6-8-1) at Cobb Stadium.
McWhinney (Danvers, MA) ignited the Hurricanes first-ever come-from-behind win in the second half with consecutive scores at 66:57 and at 85:11. Overall, UM held a 20-10 advantage in shots on goal. The win also gives the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead in the all-time series, after splitting last seasons two meetings.
Trailing 2-1, senior midfielder Nina Wathne (Haudesand, Norway) stole the ball from an FIU forward at midfield and quick-touched a pass to sophomore forward Alexis MacKenzie (Plantation/St. Thomas Aquinas), who sent the ball over the FIU defense. McWhinney took control of the pass in the goalie box and beat a lunging FIU keeper Julie Rehberg to the lower left of the box from 10 yards out.
In the 86th minute, freshman midfielder Laura West (Allen, TX) sent a long pass deep into FIU territory to a racing McWhinney down the right side. McWhinney beat out one FIU defender and lifted a shot to the top left of the net over Rehberg for the game-winner.
McWhinney, the team leader in goals and overall points, now has 10 goals and 22 points overall. Sophomore forward Jenny Sanchez, who is out for the season with an injured left knee, holds the single season record for goals (11) and points (27) set during UM’s inaugural season in 1998. In addition, the game-winning goal was McWhinney’s third on the season, while the game-winning assist was West’s second.
FIU got on the scoreboard first in the 37th minute, when Jennifer Servedio’s shot on goal deflected off UM keeper Elizabeth Swinson’s hands and into the net behind her. FIU eventually took its 1-0 lead into halftime.
With a previous all-time mark of 0-11 when trailing at the half, Miami tied the game with Deidre Bass’ (Coral Springs/Stoneman-Douglas) goal in the 51st minute. Freshman sweeper Lisa Gomez (Boca Raton/Spanish River) was credited with her team-high eighth assist on the score.
FIU’s Nicole Fernandez put the Golden Panthers up again, 2-1, in the 58th minute when she scored from 40 yards out as the ball carried in the wind over the reach of Swinson. Sarah Middlebrook was credited with the assist.
Miami closes out the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 31 against Boise State at 1 p.m. at Cobb Stadium.
