Hurricanes to face No. 21 Long Beach State Friday
Nov. 17, 2011
By: Camron Ghorbi
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After extending their 2011 campaign with a comeback win over Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Miami Hurricanes will be making their first-ever second-round appearance in the tournament Friday against Long Beach State University.
“They showed in that match that they have character,” Head Coach Tom Anagnost said of his team’s 3-2 first-round win over Alabama. “They showed resolve, they showed resiliency, they showed belief. When you have those traits, good things happen.”
The Hurricanes found themselves down on two separate occasions against the Crimson Tide, but managed to fight back to tie the game both times before winning the match in double overtime.
In its never-say-die mentality, the Hurricanes’ comeback performance against Alabama embodied the team’s 2011 season. After falling to in-state rival Florida early in the year, the Hurricanes reeled off seven straight victories. After damaging their postseason hopes with back-to-back losses to North Carolina and Virginia Tech, the Hurricanes responded with two straight wins over ranked teams at home late in the season.
So when the Hurricanes found themselves down against the Crimson Tide at Cobb Stadium, the Hurricanes did what has become second nature: they rallied.
“It’s been like that all year. Most of the time this season we’ve responded favorably when down, and it didn’t take long to happen,” Anagnost said.
Second-team All-ACC selection Kate Howarth was among the game’s heroes, tying the score up at 2-2 late in the game with a header and assisting with a beautiful lead pass on the game-winning goal. Her second-half tally was Howard’s team-leading 11th goal of the season.
“Kate Howarth has always been a special player and person,” Anagnost said. “She’s come up big for us.”
Even in his first year as head coach at Miami, Anagnost is used to seeing his leading scorer shine. Anagnost coached Howarth in high school at Powers Catholic High School in Flint, Mich., and was reunited with the star forward when he arrived in late Dec. 2010 as head coach in Coral Gables.
“I think the thing I’m most happy about with her, and what we want the entire team to envelop, is that she brings a focus and intensity every day,” Anagnost said of his junior forward. “In every activity we do, she’s focused, she’s competitive, and she’s intent on what we’re doing.”
No Hurricanes game would be complete without dazzling saves from senior goalkeeper Vikki Alonzo, and the first-round match-up with Alabama was no different. Alonzo made two point-blank stops in the box to keep the game tied at halftime, and finished the contest with five saves overall.
“She’s one of, if not the most, important piece to the team,” Anagnost said. “She’s a vocal leader, and she’s come up huge for us game in and game out. She’s the reason we’re here.”
The Hurricanes have one of their toughest challenges to date awaiting them in the 49ers of Long Beach State. LBSU, who knocked off No. 7 Pepperdine in the first round of the tournament, will be playing in front of a home crowd. The game, set for kick-off at 8 p.m. Eastern, will be played at Drake Stadium on the UCLA campus.
“They’re a very good team. We’re going to have to play our best game on Friday,” Anagnost said. “We’re going to have to do a better job defensively, and not allow as many chances in goal.
