Oct. 2, 2009

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio - For the first time since 2005, the Miami University women's soccer team defeated the Toledo Rockets, 1-0, behind senior Stephanie Laser's second-half goal Friday afternoon at Miami Soccer Field. With the victory, the RedHawks (5-4-1, 1-1-1 Mid-American Conference) picked up their first league win of the season and knocked off the Rockets (5-4-2, 1-1-1 MAC) for the first time in six tries.

Senior keeper Krista Pace (Toronto, Ont.) made a season-high nine saves to record her third shutout of 2009 and break Miami's career shutouts record with her 11th clean sheet. She was tied with Katie Karlander (2001-02) entering Friday's match.

Toledo controlled much of the first half, firing nine shots, including five on goal, but Pace was up to the challenge making stops on all five. Miami's top scoring chance came in the final minute of the period when junior Sara Lund (Malmo, Sweden) weaved through traffic and ripped a shot at Toledo sophomore goalkeeper Vicki Traven, who made the diving save but left a juicy rebound. Senior Kersta Carlson (Plymouth, Minn.) was unable to set herself, however, and sent the point-blank rebound wide left.

Miami totaled four shots in the opening half, forcing Traven to make a pair of saves. Toledo held a 3-1 edge in corner kicks in the first 45 minutes, as well.

The second half seemed like a whole new game for the 'Hawks, who created more opportunities and pushed the ball into Toledo's end using the right flank to create space. Senior forward Jodi Zwingelberg (Elgin, Ill.) sent a cross into the box from the right side in the 38th minute that Carlson volleyed out of mid-air, but the shot went high and wide left.

"We needed to open the game up a little bit in the second half," Miami head coach Bobby Kramig said. "In the first half, I think the wind affected the game a little bit but we were also trying to do too many things with the ball. We were making things more complicated than they needed to be. With the wind behind us in the second half, we wanted to open things up and run Toledo. The right side was open all day long and that put them back on their heels and changed the game completely."

In the 58th minute, Miami again went on the attack as Lund dribbled down the right side, avoided a Rocket defender and centered the ball in the box to Laser (Hinsdale, Ill.), who beamed the ball past a diving Traven, despite grazing a Toledo player, to give Miami the lead. The goal was Laser's first of the campaign and just the second of her career, while Lund garnered her second helper of 2009.

The Rockets applied some pressure in the final 10 minutes, earning a corner and taking four shots, but none threatened Miami's cushion, as Pace calmly stopped two while the other shots were not on target. The RedHawks' back line of Brooke Livingston (Lisle, Ill.), Haley Clark (London, Ont.), Courtney Clarke (Scarborough, Ont.) and Rachel Byron (Plymouth, Minn.) helped keep the ball out of Miami's end down the stretch to secure the victory.

"It doesn't matter who the first (league) win comes against--a MAC win is a MAC win--certainly it's satisfying to beat a good team and there's no question Toledo is one, but the MAC season is marathon and we can't get too up and can't get too down," Kramig said. "We'll enjoy this one tonight but we're all about Bowling Green tomorrow."

For the match, Toledo out-shot the 'Hawks 17-9, despite the loss, and earned eight corners to Miami's three. Senior Molly Cornwell paced UT with four shots (two on goal) while Traven finished with three saves in net.

The RedHawks complete their weekend home stand Sunday when they welcome the Bowling Green Falcons. First touch is set for 1 p.m. ET at Miami Soccer Field.

--MURedHawks.com--

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