Soccer Moves Past Lipscomb

Soccer Moves Past Lipscomb

By: Kevin Ivany

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On a hot summer day in the Music City, junior midfielder Kristina Fisher received a rebound in front of the Lipscomb goal, and finished off the shot to give the University of Miami soccer team a 1-0 victory Sunday at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
 
“The conditions were really difficult today and we were playing against a good opponent in Lipscomb. So it was tough to play the way we wanted to,” head coach Sarah Barnes said. “But the team continued to grind through the challenges and get a result, which is always great. I think at this point, we are looking forward to getting back to Miami and being able to rest and recover while also getting back to working on improving.”
 
During the opening 20 minutes, both teams looked to maintain possession, with Lipscomb (2-1-1) recording the only shot, which cleared the uprights.
 
The Canes’ (3-1-0) first opportunity came in the 21st minute, when junior defender Bayleigh Chaviers found space outside of the six-yard box and attempted to curve the ball towards the back post. The Stephenville, Texas, native’s shot was blocked by a Lipscomb defender out of play, leaving the match scoreless.
 
Continuing to knock on the doorstep, Miami received another great goal-scoring opportunity in the 31st minute, when freshman forward Gudrun Haralz blasted a shot towards the back of the net. Lipscomb redshirt senior goalkeeper Kate Mason made a tremendous diving save to prevent the goal.
 
Following the corner, Haralz again found herself in goal-scoring position, before she was dragged down by a Lipscomb defender to set up a Fisher free kick from just outside the 18, in the 32nd minute. The Jupiter, Fla., native’s shot was on target, but again Mason was in position to knock it out of play.
 
In the 37th minute, Lipscomb freshman Kristi Lip Jones’ shot headed towards the back of the net. Putting her body on the line, Chaviers jumped in front of the ball and headed it out of harms way.
 
Both teams headed to their locker rooms, with the match remaining scoreless.
 
Mason made her third save of the afternoon in the 60th minute, as junior midfielder Lauren Markwith’s shot towards the bottom right corner was denied.
 
On the defense, redshirt senior goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made back-to-back tremendous saves in the 68th and 72nd minutes, to keep the score level with 18 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
In the 82nd minute, Miami again went on the attack, with Chaviers sprinting into open space down the right sideline. The junior sent a cross to the awaiting foot of Haralz, whose initial shot was denied by the right post. Off of the rebound, freshman forward Mallory Olsson took a shot that was blocked away by a Lady Bisons defender to the awaiting foot of Fisher.
 
Fisher then took a shot that rolled inches over the goal line before a Lipscomb defender could make a play.
 
The goal proved to be the difference, as Miami was able to wind down the remaining eight minutes of action to claim the 1-0 victory.
 
UM finished the match with a 13-11 edge in shots and an 8-5 advantage in corner kicks taken.
 
In net, Tullis-Joyce collected her 21st-career-victory, moving into a tie for third on the Canes’ all-time wins list, while saving a season-high five shots on the day.
 
The game-winner marked the fourth of Fisher’s career, placing her in a four-way tie for ninth on the Canes all-time list.
 
The Hurricanes will return to Miami for a pair of home matches next weekend, beginning Thursday at 7 p.m. against UT Rio Grand Valley at Cobb Stadium.
 
To keep up with the University of Miami soccer team on social media, follow @CanesFutbol on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.