Soccer Opens Home Schedule Friday With FGCU
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes soccer team will open its home schedule Friday with a 7 p.m. matchup against FGCU at Cobb Stadium.
The Hurricanes opened their fall last weekend with a challenging duo of road matches, falling to No. 5 Florida (3-0) and No. 23 UCF (2-1). Head coach Mary-Frances Monroe is looking to change momentum in a hurry, beginning with four home matches over the next 10 days: FGCU, Jacksonville (Sept. 2), Stetson (Sept. 5) and FAU (Sept. 7).
Miami has reason to be optimistic, however. The Hurricanes have not lost to FGCU in three previous matchups, and defeated both Jacksonville (3-2 OT) and FAU (2-1) last season. Monroe said her team progressed through its first two matches, but is looking for a 90-minute performance against the Eagles.
Need more reason for optimism? Under Monroe’s direction in 2013, Miami finished its nonconference schedule with a perfect 5-0-0 record and an impressive 6-2-1 home record.
Despite the two losses, senior goalkeeper Emily Lillard has been a bright spot for the Hurricanes. The Kansas native has posted 12 saves through the first two games – tied for most of any player in the ACC – and came through with an unlikely goal to cut into UCF’s lead in the second half of an eventual defeat.
With the ball lined up just past the half line in the 64th minute, Lillard lined up from her usual spot to deliver service into the box. Instead, the ball slipped through the hands of charging UCF keeper Connie Organ and into the back of the net.
“It’s nice, but my responsibility this season is to keep everything out of the net because I believe we can be a special team,” Lillard said of her goal. “Scoring is definitely the last thing on my mind, but getting one, it’s very cool.”
After being held to just Lillard’s highlight strike through its first two matches, the Hurricanes will look to jumpstart offensive standout Ronnie Johnson – who has served as one of Monroe’s top targets in front.
Flanking Johnson have been Natalie Moik and Cortney O’Connell, who have both impressed in the early going. Grace Rapp is another newcomer who has shown positive signs through the first two matches of her Hurricanes career.
Admission to Friday’s opener is free to all students and fans. For more information, follow soccer on Twitter and Facebook.
