FGCU Falls to Miami in Double Overtime

September 6, 2011

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women’s soccer team saw its three-game win streak come to an end on Tuesday night, as a Miami goal in the 101^st minute of double-overtime time handed the Eagles a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

FGCU had its chances to put a stop to the Hurricanes’ (5-1) four-game win streak, but Miami keeper Vikki Alonzo turned away six shots, including a diving stop late in the second half. Miami out-shot the Eagles 18-14, but the Eagles owned a 10-8 edge after the first half.

The Eagles are now 4-2 on the season.

“The girls played well, but it is one that is going to be bitter,” said head coach Jim Blankenship. “We had chances to put them away but their goalkeeper made two breakaway saves. Give credit to them, we were dangerous all game, but just couldn’t convert our chances.”

Junior Jessica Swartzentruber (Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota Christian HS) scored a goal for the third straight game, becoming the second player in program history to accomplish the feat. Amber McCall had a three-game streak in 2009 and a record four-game scoring streak in 2007.

Neither team got on the board in the opening 45 minutes, as Miami owned a 10-4 shot advantage. The best chance of the frame came from FGCU, though, when freshman Melissa Arnold (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional HS) broke by the Miami defense, but was stopped on her 1-on-1 try against the keeper.

The Hurricanes took the first lead of the contest in the 58^th minute when Tara Schwitter hit a ball from just inside of the box past FGCU keeper Stephanie Powers (Seffner, Fla./Armwood HS) on the left side for the 1-0 count.

FGCU nearly tied the game less than two minutes later when Swartzentruber turned and fired a shot from the top of the 18 that drilled off the cross bar and was cleared out by the Miami defense.

Swartzentruber made good on her second chance, burying a shot from 15 yards out inside the left side of the goal to tie the game at 1-1 at the 66:43 mark. Freshman Shannen wacker (Parker, Colo./Ponderosa HS) assisted on the goal, dropping off a pass for Swartzentruber in the middle of the box.

FGCU continued to own the momentum and in the 78^th minute nearly took a 2-1 lead when junior Brittany Burt (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS/USF) broke through the Miami defense. Burt put what looked to be a sure goal towards the upper right corner, but Alonzo made a terrific save diving to her right.

Neither team was able to push across a goal in the first overtime before Schwitter provided the golden-goal from the Hurricanes in the second extra frame. Shannon Caspar was able to work the ball up the right side of the FGCU defense and found a wide open Schwitter who put home her second goal in the 101^st minute.

Powers turned in another strong performance in net for the Eagles, making five saves.

FGCU will be back in action on Friday when it starts a string of three consecutive road games with a 6:30 p.m. tilt against FIU (2-3).