Lombard, Paterson Tally in 2-0 Soccer Victory
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s soccer team opened its season with an impressive showing Friday night, besting the visiting Cincinnati Bearcats 2-0 at Cobb Stadium.
Miami received goals from sophomores Jasmine Paterson and Paige Lombard, along with a clean sheet from junior goalie Emily Lillard, en route to their second consecutive opening day victory. The win marked the first of head coach Mary-Frances Monroe’s career as a Hurricane.
“It was very exciting, the atmosphere was great,” she said. “We have been preparing for this for a while now, and we just couldn’t wait to get on the field and play.”
The team’s excitement showed in the early stages of the contest. After a solid run of control to open the match, junior midfielder Erin McGovern gave Miami its first scoring chance in just the fifth minute. Fighting her way through two Bearcats defenders, McGovern was able to slot a through pass to freshman Gracie Lachowecki inside the six-yard box. Bearcats goalie Natalie Smith was up to the challenge, however, coming off her line to snare the attempt.
Junior forward Ashley Flinn forced Smith into her first save of the night with a ripped shot just inside the 18-yard box a few minutes later. Paterson, who helped create Flinn’s chance with a clever pass, cracked a free kick over the bar just shy of 20 minutes in to help maintain the early pressure.
It was Paterson who finally broke through for the Hurricanes, giving her side the advantage in the 26th minute. The Key Largo, Fla., native and 2012 All-ACC Freshman selection dribbled her way into open space on the far fringes of the box, and cracked her first goal of the season past Smith from a tough angle.
“Jasmine is a very special player,” Monroe said. “When she gets the opportunity to go 1-on-1, she will dominate. She just has to have the encouragement to actually take a shot. When she does, she’ll score some goals.”
Senior Tara Schwitter, who contributed to the team’s consistent first-half attack, nearly doubled Miami’s lead seven minutes shy of halftime. The speedy midfielder finished off a pass from Flinn past Smith, but was deemed offside on a close call inside the 18-yard box. Lillard came up with a big save in the final seconds of the half to maintain Miami’s advantage.
Schwitter attributed the team’s solid early returns to a sense of cohesiveness gained during summer training.
“It has been a long preseason,” she said. “Most of the team was here for summer classes. Even in Ohio, it was good to get scrimmages under our belt. To have the first game in front of a great crowd, family and friends was really, really exciting.”
The Hurricanes got off to a slow start in the second half, as Cincinnati threatened but could not capitalize. Lillard, who paced Miami in the back during her sophomore campaign in 2012, ended the night with five saves.
Lombard finished off the night in style for Miami, sealing the win with an 83rd-minute tally on a scramble inside the box. Schwitter was at the focal point of the attack once again, sending in a cross that was tapped in by Lombard from close range after Smith was unable to corral the ball.
“Cincinnati is a huge team and is really physical,” Schwitter said. “I bounced out and tried to flip it in with my right foot, and Paige did a great job coming from the top of the box and fought the goalie off. It was about determination and who wanted it more.”
The Hurricanes will next make the short trip to Jacksonville, Fla., for a matchup with the Dolphins this coming Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
