Soccer Hands No. 4 Boston College its First Loss
Oct. 11, 2007
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s soccer team capitalized on an own goal by Boston College to hand the fourth-ranked Eagles their first loss of the season on Thursday evening at Cobb Stadium.
With just over a minute remaining in regulation, Miami freshman Brittney Steinbruch (Wyckoff, N.J.) sent a cross into the box that was deflected into the goal by a BC player to give the Hurricanes the 1-0 victory.
With Miami’s fifth-straight win at home, the Hurricanes improve to 7-3-3 overall and a program-best 3-1-1 in the ACC, while Boston College – who entered tonight’s contest unbeaten, falls to 8-1-3 overall and 1-1-2 in the conference.
Senior goalkeeper Lauren McAdam (Simsbury, Conn.) picked up her third shutout of the season for the Hurricanes to move into a tie for first place in school history with 13 career shutouts. Miami’s all-time saves leader (266) grabbed six saves in the winning effort, as the Hurricanes’ defense – including freshman Brittney Macdonald (Littleton, Colo.), sophomore Jessica Wyble (Potomac, Md.) and juniors Corynn Carino (Los Gatos, Calif.) and Sammy Sanderson (Columbus, Ohio) – proved strong once again for the `Canes.
“Our back line has definitely been the key to our success. They continue to get better every single game,” said sixth-year head Miami coach Tricia Taliaferro. “[Brittney] Macdonald and Corynn [Carino] have been consistent in leading us, and I think the ability of Jess Wyble and Sammy [Sanderson] to be able to go forward into the attack is instrumental. That goal was a result of their ability to do that.”
In a very physical first half, the Hurricanes threatened first as Steinbruch fired off a shot in the fifth minute from 18 yards out that skimmed the front of the goal and sailed just right of the Eagles net.
Miami took just four shots in the opening period, while Boston College got off eight shots – including five on goal to keep McAdam and the Hurricane defense on its toes. BC’s Brooke Knowlton fired off a pair of shots on goal over a three-minute span midway through the period, but McAdam stopped them, and the teams took the scoreless tie into intermission.
The Hurricanes came out aggressive in the second half and matched the Eagles’ five-shot output in the period. BC nearly got on the board with just under eight minutes to go, as Kelly Henderson took a shot from 15 yards out that hit the left post and deflected back into play.
With three minutes to go, Steinbruch took the ball at midfield, streaked down the left side of the field and sent a shot into the left side of the net. BC keeper Sarah Buonomo dove for the save, knocking the ball back into play near the post. But she managed to recover the ball just before Miami sophomore Beverly Goebel (Sacramento, Calif.) could reach it.
Miami continues its ACC slate at home at Cobb Stadium on Sun., Oct. 14, with a 1 p.m. contest versus Maryland (5-5-2, 0-4-0), who is coming off tonight’s 2-0 loss at No. 15 Florida State. The match will also be available via webcast on ACC Select (www.accselect.com). The Hurricanes are 2-0-1 all-time versus the Terps, most recently playing them to a scoreless double-overtime tie in 2006.
