Freshmen Kelsey Dinges and Emily Hyde each tally first career goal

OXFORD, Ohio – For the second straight game, the Miami University women’s soccer team put on a dominating performance which resulted in a 4-0 victory, as four different RedHawks tallied a goal to down visiting Morehead State Sunday afternoon at Miami Soccer Field. The RedHawks (2-0-0) are off to a 2-0 start for the second consecutive season after a 4-0 win over IUPUI in Friday’s season opener while the Eagles (1-1-0) suffered their first loss of 2011.

Freshman Kelsey Dinges (Smithton, Ill.) put Miami on the board just over 11 minutes into the contest with her first career goal after some stellar passing set up the score. Junior Jess Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) and senior Giselle Mangal (Mississauga, Ont.) carried the ball down the right side, passing to each other until Kodiak dished to sophomore Katy Dolesh (South Euclid, Ohio), who connected with Dinges in the middle of the field. Dinges took a few dribbles and fired from just outside the 18-yard box as the ball hit the inside of the goal post and slowly rolled in to give the ‘Hawks a 1-0 advantage.

Miami would almost score again in the opening half, but an Eagles defender headed the ball off the goal line to keep it a 1-0 contest at halftime. Despite leading by just one, the RedHawks outshot MSU 14-2 in the first 45 minutes, as Miami didn’t allow a shot until the 19^th minute, but Eagle keeper Katie Blevins made five saves to keep the match close. Miami also earned three of its four corner kicks in the first stanza while Morehead State earned just one all day.

The RedHawks would open the game up in the second half, as Kodiak doubled Miami’s advantage in the 63^rd minute, after she was robbed in the first half by a strong save from Blevins. Mangal pressured Blevins into a bad clearance that went right to sophomore Kayla Zakrzewski (London, Ont.), who dribbled up the left flank where she found Kodiak camped in front of the net for a one-time finish.

Freshman Emily Hyde (Barrington, Ill.) then made it 3-0 Miami in the 74^th minute with her first career goal. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Allison Norenberg (Palatine, Ill.) booted the ball upfield and Dinges flicked the ball forward with her head, leading to a breakaway for Hyde, who slotted the ball into the far corner of the net just past a diving Blevins. Dinges picked up the assist, the first of her Miami career, giving her a three-point match.

“I thought all of our kids did well today, not just the freshmen,” head coach Bobby Kramig said. “I’m certainly pleased with how quickly they’re picking up the system. Every day they seem to understand what their roles are and how we play. Emily Hyde and Kelsey Dinges getting their first collegiate goal, that’s always a thrill.”

Just over five minutes later, Miami capped the scoring to make it 4-0. Senior Courtney Clarke (Scarborough, Ont.) dribbled down the right side past a defender and into the penalty box, where she was taken down, earning the ‘Hawks a penalty kick. Dolesh took the kick for Miami, calmly burying it in the right side of the goal for her third goal of the young season.

The RedHawks finished with a 25-6 edge in shots, as Norenberg needed to make just three saves, all in the second half, to earn her second straight clean sheet and improve to 2-0. Blevins took the loss while finishing with seven saves. Miami has now allowed just nine shots, including only four on goal, in its first two games combined.

“I’m really pleased with two straight shutouts. You just can’t ask any more of our defense,” Kramig said. “Haley Clark has been superb. Not only has she been a great player in the back but you also get great leadership. She has really stepped up, especially for someone who hasn’t played center back in a couple of years.”

The RedHawks look to remain undefeated when they hit the road for the first time in 2011, traveling to Cincinnati for a contest with Xavier on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. Miami then continues further south, facing Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 1 p.m.

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