@CanesFutbol Falls to FIU, 1-0
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami soccer team outshot FIU by a 20-4 margin Sunday afternoon at Cobb Stadium, but the Panthers converted on their lone shot on goal and came away with a 1-0 victory.
After falling behind in the fifth minute, the Hurricanes largely controlled play and possession the rest of the way, but were unable to pull level.
“I was just really disappointed in our play in the first half. We let in a really poor goal and that just set us up for the rest of the game, putting a little pressure on ourselves,” Miami head coach Mary-Frances Monroe. “We have the ability and the talent to get that tying goal, and we have the ability and the talent to get that winning goal, but someone has to step up on the field when we’re in those situations.”
FIU tallied the match’s only goal on the first shot of the afternoon for either side. Senior midfielder Alyssa Robinson stole a pass directed back to Miami goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and then put the ball past the redshirt sophomore to give the Panthers an early lead they would not relinquish.
Junior forward Ronnie Johnson nearly tied the score in the 24th minute on a breakaway after stealing the ball at midfield and beating the final FIU defender, but the Panthers’ senior goalkeeper, Sophia Trujillo, made a stellar kick save.
Despite holding an 8-2 advantage in shot attempts, Miami entered the locker room with a 1-0 deficit at the intermission.
The Hurricanes turned up the pace offensively in the second half and put together numerous scoring chances. However, the Panthers, who finished with 14 fouls against Miami’s frenzied attack, to the Hurricanes’ five, were able to withstand the pressure.
FIU (1-5-1) finished the match with 10 blocked shots, including seven in the second half, five of which came in the last 13 minutes.
Sunday’s match was the final leg of a six-game homestand for the Hurricanes, who have now concluded non-conference action. The team will not have a midweek match for the first time this season, giving Miami a week off before starting ACC action.
“We’ll have a day off. I think it will be good for them to decompress and think about the non-conference part of our season, not just the game today, but the positive things that we have done,” Monroe said. “Moving forward, going into conference play, we really just have to click and we can’t make any mistakes. A lot of the goals that we’ve had scored against us have been from mistakes.”
Miami, which has conceded just four goals in eight matches, will open ACC action against the top-ranked team in the nation, Florida State, Sunday at 1 p.m., in Tallahassee, Fla.
To keep up with the University of Miami soccer team on social media, follow @CanesFutbol on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
