Canes Shut Out Syracuse, 1-0
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami soccer team registered a 1-0 victory over Syracuse Saturday night at Cobb Stadium.
Freshman forward Gudrun Haralz’s first half goal made the difference, as the Hurricanes secured their first ACC victory under first-year head coach Sarah Barnes.
“It’s great. I am really happy for the team. We have been on the cusp of some wins for a month now, but we have fallen a little bit short and have not quite executed,” coach Barnes said. “Honestly, I did not think it was the prettiest game we have played this season, but I thought we fought, competed and got the job done. I am just really happy for the team. I think they needed this.”
Syracuse (3-9-0, 0-4-0 ACC) earned the matches first opportunities, with Georgia Allen and Mackenzie Vlachos both recording shots in the seventh and ninth minutes, respectively. However, both shots by the Orange midfielders missed wide.
Off of a set-piece from 35-yards out in the 12th minute, sophomore midfielder Alexa Ferreira sent a beautifully placed ball towards the head of freshman defender Selena Fortich. However, the Hurricanes’ first shot of the night missed wide of the net.
Two minutes later, Miami (4-6-2, 1-3-0 ACC) received another opportunity when freshman forward Mallory Olsson blasted a shot towards the goal, but her shot was denied by a Syracuse defender.
In the 33rd minute, senior midfielder Jamie Brunworth set up by junior defender Bayleigh Chaviers down the right sideline who sent a line drive across the face of the goal. Making a run from the top of the box, Haralz slid to tap the ball past Lysianne Proulx to put the Canes’ in the driver seat, holding a 1-0 lead.
The goal marked the fourth of the season for Miami’s leading scorer and 10th point overall (four goals, two assists), while Brunworth tallied her sixth point (two goals, two assists) in as many matches. Chaviers registered her second career assist on the play, and the first of the 2018 season.
Sophomore midfielder Tia Dupont looked to add to the Canes’ total in the 40th minute, however the Sicklerville, N.J., native’s shot was blocked by a sliding Syracuse defender.
At the half, the Canes entered the locker room holding a 7-2 advantage in shots.
Out of the break, the Orange made a substitution in goal, with Jordan Harris replacing Proulx.
In the 51st minute, junior midfielder Kristina Fisher led Chaviers in stride down the right sideline, who made a move near the corner flag to get past two defenders. The Stephenville, Texas, native sent a beautiful cross towards Brunworth’s awaiting head, but the senior was unable to direct the ball on target.
Two minutes later, Drina Domic directed the Orange’s first shot on net. Moving off of her line, redshirt senior goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce corralled the ball in for her first save of the night.
In the 58th minute, Fisher made a move past a defender and directed a shot from just outside of the 18, but Harris was in position to make the save.
Two minutes later, off a corner kick from Brunworth, senior defender Maisie Baker’s header missed just wide of the net.
Fisher and Dupont both registered shots that looked to be heading towards net in the 70th and 75th minutes, respectively, however on both occasions a Syracuse defender made a last ditch effort to block the shots and prevent the goal-scoring opportunities.
Overall, the Hurricanes outshot the Orange, 18-6, while also holding the advantage in shots on goal, 3-2.
“I don’t think tonight was the best that we have played, but we executed,” coach Barnes said. “We executed in both boxes, which has been a problem for us. There have been too many games where we conceded a goal that I thought we were capable of stopping. And then not finish on ones–even tonight I thought there were a few that we should have put a way, but we didn’t. But obviously, we were a little bit better at crossing and obviously, we were able to execute on the goal tonight. But I just thought the quality of play in the final third was better tonight then it has been previously. Even if you look at the quality of chances we didn’t score on.”
In goal, Tullis-Joyce collected her 13th career shut out to move into a three-way tie on the Hurricanes’ all time shut out list with Rachel Elsby and Emaily Lillard. The win also marked the 22nd of the redshirt senior’s career, surpassing Lauren McAdam for third in program history.
Up next, the Hurricanes will hit the road for a pair of matches, beginning Thursday at 7 p.m. against Pittsburgh. Miami will then close out the weekend with a Sunday afternoon matchup at Louisville.
To keep up with the University of Miami soccer team on social media, follow @CanesFutbol on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
