Soccer Stomps Stetson, 4-0
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Both metaphorically and physically, it was raining goals Thursday night at Cobb Stadium.
Following an 87 minute delay caused by inclement weather, the University of Miami women’s soccer team (3-1-1. 0-0-0 ACC) tallied a quartet of goals in the final 46 minutes of action to take down Stetson (2-4-0, 0-0-0 ASUN), 4-0.
With 30 minutes remaining in the opening half, the Hurricanes held the early advantage with a trio of shots and a pair of shots on target by senior forward Kristina Fisher and junior forward Tia Dupont, before a storm front blew in bringing a torrential downpour to the pitch.
Weathering the storm for five minutes, action was officially halted in the 21st minute following the ringing of the UM storm siren.
Waiting for action to resume, Miami head coach Sarah Barnes met with the team to go over a few things, while letting them know to take a breather and play more relaxed once action got back underway.
“She definitely said we had to focus more on our decisions in the final third. We were moving the ball really well in the back and the midfield to get it to the front, but once we received the ball up front, we were panicking. We weren’t settling and finding the best option,” Dupont said. “So she told us to take a step back, relax and look for that best option.”
Renewing first half action at 9:01 p.m., the Hurricanes continued to apply the pressure with a trio of shots over a four minute span.
In the 38th minute, Tyler Speaks faced a one-on-one opportunity with Stetson’s Erin McRae. Getting low and establishing her position, the sophomore goalkeeper made an incredible diving save the keep the match knotted at 0-0.
In the final minute of the frame, Dupont sent a low-driving cross into the box, which freshman forward Emma Tucker strategically let slip through her legs before Fisher capitalized on the misdirection for her second goal of the season and the 12th of her career.
In addition, the goal marked the sixth match-winning tally of her career, as the Jupiter, Fla., native moved into a tie for fourth on the program’s all-time list alongside Allison McWhinney (1999-2002) and Nina Wathne (1998-99).
“Yeah, I think that goal was definitely needed. That really got our intensity up in the locker room,” Dupont said. “We said, ‘You know, we got that first goal in and now it is about getting another one and another one.’ Going until we can’t go anymore. So, I think that goal really got the momentum up and got the team ready to go back out there and just come at them.”
Exiting the locker room, both teams came out aggressive looking to add to the overall tally, but through 12 minutes of second half action both goalkeepers prevented any goal-scoring opportunities.
In the 58th minute, María Jakobsdóttir doubled the Hurricanes’ lead with her second goal of the season.
Making a run down the far right sideline, senior defender Bayleigh Chaviers made countless defenders miss before dumping off a pass to Fisher. The forward then blasted one toward the right foot of Jakobsdóttir, who buried it home.
The assist marked the third on the year for Chaviers, while Fisher moved into a tie for fourth on the UM all-time assists list (15).
Nine minute later, sophomore midfielder Ariana Muñoz got in on the fun with her first career goal.
Set up by a cross from Dupont to Jakobosdóttir, the Garðabær, Iceland, native then played it back to Muñoz for the 3-0 advantage, Dupont notched her team-leading fourth assist of the evening, while Jakobosdóttir registered her first career assist.
In the 69th minute, Muñoz led Sierra Frey into the box, as the sophomore defender tallied her first career goal on the night of her 20th birthday.
“Yeah, I thought that was awesome,” Barnes said when asked about Sierra’s goal. “I thought she did a great job. She is more of a defensive player and we really urged her in the last year to get forward and join the attack. So for her to put herself in a scoring position and then finish it under pressure at a high speed, I thought was really good. I am proud of her, and also pretty neat that she gets to do it on her birthday.”
Overall, the Hurricanes improved to 11-1-1 in the all-time series against the Hatters, while Miami out shot Stetson, 22-8, with 12 shots on target compared to the Hatters three.
With a trio of saves in her first complete collegiate game, Speaks registered her second shutout of the season.
“I thought it was good in a number of ways,” Barnes said about earning the home victory. “One, we could get some kids in, who need the experience. So, it is a good opportunity for them. Obviously, anytime you win a game it is a confidence booster for sure. And I think, from our end, it was a sloppy game, so we are going to be able to make critical evaluations to help the team improve. But we can do it with the reassurance that we could secure the win. So it feels better.”
The Hurricanes will return to action Sunday night at 6 p.m., when Miami travels to face in-state rival Florida in the final non-conference regular season match.
To keep up with the University of Miami soccer team on social media, follow @CanesFutbol on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
