Miami Tops ISU on Zakrzewski’s Overtime Goal

September 18, 2011

Zakrzewski records second multi-goal game of season

OXFORD, Ohio – Sophomore Kayla Zakrzewski booted in the game-winning goal 3:56 into the first overtime Sunday afternoon at Miami Soccer Field to give the Miami University women’s soccer team a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Indiana State and extend Miami’s winning streak to three. The match was the first ever meeting between the RedHawks (5-2-0) and Sycamores (3-7-0) and also served as a final tune-up before Mid-American Conference play.

Miami controlled much of the match, setting a school record with 39 shots, including 20 in the second stanza, while limiting ISU to just eight. The previous record was 37 shots against Alabama A&M in last year’s season opener. Miami also set a school record with 17 corner kicks, one better than the 16 the RedHawks earned against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 7, 2000, while conceding just one all day.

“It was a good effort. We worked hard and brought a lot of energy to the game, especially for a Sunday game, which is always tough after playing Friday,” head coach Bobby Kramig said. “We came out and were sharp. We started well in the second half as well.“

Of Miami’s 39 shots, 18 were on goal but Indiana State goalkeeper Emily Lahay put on a stellar performance, making 14 saves, including several diving and highlight-reel stops. The RedHawks had an early chance to get on the board in the sixth minute when sophomore Katy Dolesh (South Euclid, Ohio) fired a low line drive from inside the penalty box but Lahay stretched full-extension to knock it wide.

In the 16^th minute, the Sycamores grabbed the lead on Kourtney Vassar’s first goal of the year. Katie Geyman sent a free kick into the box that Miami redshirt freshman goalkeeper Allison Norenberg (Palatine, Ill.) came off her line to snag but missed, allowing Vassar the easy putaway.

After Lahay denied several other chances for the RedHawks, Miami finally leveled the match at 1-1 on Zakrzewski’s (London, Ont.) first goal of the match. Junior Jess Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) sent in a corner kick in the 32^nd minute that found Zakrzewski’s foot. The sophomore’s first shot was blocked but she gathered her own rebound and buried the ball in the net.

ISU had a good chance to recapture the lead in the 36^th minute when the Sycamores sent a cross into the box where Shelby Troyer was unmarked, but she was unable to put the ball on frame as it skidded off her head and wide of the goal. The ‘Hawks had an opportunity of their own in the closing seconds of the first half, earning two corner kicks with Zakrzewski getting a hold of the second one but Casey Allbright was on the goal line to clear the shot away.

The teams went into the break knotted at 1-1 despite Miami holding a 15-6 edge in shots and an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks. Lahay had five saves in the first 45 minutes while Norenberg made three of her five stops in the first stanza.

The RedHawks dominated the second period, holding ISU to just two shots while Miami’s 20 was one shy of a single-half school record. Again Lahay came up large however to keep the game even. In the 53^rd minute, freshman Emily Hyde (Barrington, Ill.) had a point-blank shot that Lahay was able to snag while Zakrzewski was denied in the 62^nd minute when she again had a shot on goal cleared off the line by a defender. Freshman Hailey Pleshakov (Brighton, Mich.) had her drive tipped over the crossbar in the 77^th minute by Lahay while in the closing seconds of regulation, Lahay corralled a blast from freshman Kelsey Dinges (Smithton, Ill.), who finished the game with a team-high eight shots, sending the match to overtime.

“The offense was successful in generating chances but we also probably set a record for missing chances and that’s not one you want to put in the books. This is soccer and sometimes it goes that way,” Kramig said. “All the credit to their goalkeeper. That’s one of the most remarkable performances I’ve ever seen.”

In the 94^th minute, Pleshakov again had a blast tipped over the crossbar by a jumping Lahay, giving Miami its 17th corner kick of the day. Kodiak sent in the corner that found Zakrzewski, who was in perfect position to put home the game-winner, much like Zakrzewski’s first goal of the day. The two-goal game was Zakrzewski’s second of the season and ties her for the team lead with five goals while Kodiak earned the assist on the game-winning goal.

“I was impressed with the comeback. We never lost our composure, we never panicked. The kids know what they’re doing. I’ve been really impressed with our play this weekend,” Kramig said. “We were very disciplined and organized and have been doing the things we’ve been working on in practice. It was an excellent weekend in terms of preparation for conference play and I think we’re ready.”

Miami improved to 1-1 in overtime games this season.

With non-conference play concluded, the RedHawks begin MAC action on Friday, Sept. 23 at Kent State. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

--MURedHawks.com--