Women's Soccer Plays Exhibition Match

Aug. 16, 2002

CORAL GABLES, Fla.-The University of Miami women’s soccer team will take on Ocean Side Express a club team from New York in an exhibition match scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. at Cobb Stadium on the UM Campus.

With practice getting underway on Wednesday, August 14, the Hurricanes have only been together as a team for three days. However, they are looking forward to taking the field for the first time against actual competition.

Newly appointed head coach, Tricia Taliaferro will get her first glimpse of the Hurricanes in action. Taliaferro joins the staff after compiling a record of 38-24-3 in three seasons at Illinois.

UM returns eight starters from last year’s club. Miami finished 10-9-1 overall with a third place finish in the Northeast Division in the BIG EAST. The Hurricanes made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament and were ranked nationally throughout the season.

Top returnees include Britney Butcher, Vonda Matthews and Laura West.

Midfielder Butcher who returns for her sophomore season started all 20 matches to lead the team with 24 points last year. She scored eight goals and tallied eight assists. She scored two game-winning goals in the 1-0 win over Providence and the 2-0 shutout over South Florida. She was named to the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team and to the SoccerBuzz Southeast Region All-Freshman team.

Matthews will return for her junior season after starting all 20 matches last season. Playing defender for most of the season she also contributed offensively for the Hurricanes, scoring six goals and three assists for a total of 15 points. She was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, NSCAA All-South Third Team and the SoccerBuzz All-Southeast Second Team.

West led the team with nine goals for a total of 23 points. She scored a hat trick in the 4-1 win over St. John’s on Sept. 30.

Admission is free for Saturday’s exhibition match.

The Hurricanes open the 2002 season on Aug. 30 hosting Stetson.