Freshmen Lift Hurricanes Past Maryland, 2-1
Sept. 19, 2004
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Freshman Cynthia Dongo netted a game-winning goal in the 85th minute to lead the University of Miami women’s soccer team past ACC rival Maryland, 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Cobb Stadium giving the Hurricanes their first win of the season and their first victory in conference play.
Miami (1-4-0, 1-2-0 ACC) recorded a season-high 20 shots with eight on goal compared to the Terrapins (3-2-1, 0-2-0 ACC) 13 total shots as freshman keeper Lauren McAdam earned the first victory of her career in net recording five saves on the day.
The Hurricanes and Terps remained scoreless throughout the entire first period and just over 14 minutes into the second following a 25-minute delay due to lightning at halftime until UM freshman Lindsay Curtin ripped a shot from 20 yards out that deflected through Maryland goalkeeper Nikki Resnick’s legs and into the net at the 59:53 mark.
Curtin’s goal, the first on her career, put Miami up 1-0, but the lead didn’t last long as Maryland responded three minutes later when Simone Dekker scored on the far left post past McAdam to tie the match at 1-1.
UM’s Julie Brooks just missed giving the Hurricanes the lead once again seconds into the 84th minute, hitting the crossbar on a shot from 15 yards out.
Just over a minute later Dongo took a pass from teammate Sheuneen Ta into the box and scored on the short side of the post past Resnick to give the Hurricanes the game-winning goal and the first of her career.
“It feels good to put an end to some of the frustration we’ve had this season,” head coach Tricia Taliaferro said. “We’ve been close all year and today we were able to step up and pull out a win.”
“We created a lot of opportunities and were extremely organized and composed. We felt like Maryland came out and did exactly what we had planned for and practice on,” Taliaferro added. “We’re a young team so the fact that we had a pair of freshman and a sophomore produce for us should really help build their confidence.”
The Hurricanes return to action Tuesday, September 21, traveling to Jacksonville, Fla. to take on intrastate rival Jacksonville at 4 p.m.
