In the team’s first conference match, the Miami Hurricanes women’s soccer team faced adversity even before kickoff. Due to the anticipated effects of Hurricane Florence on the Carolinas, the match between UM and Clemson was moved back from 5 p.m. to noon.
The early kickoff didn’t appear to affect the Hurricanes too negatively in the first half, but the match still ended bitterly for UM, as Mariana Speckmaier scored to give the Tigers the golden-goal victory.
The Hurricanes actually took the lead first, with Mallory Olsson scoring a goal assisted by Jamie Brunworth off a free kick in the 43rd minute. Clemson answered right back after halftime, with Miranda Weslake finishing a Brooke Power pass into the box.
The Tigers dominated the second half. Clemson outshot the Hurricanes 23-5 overall, including 7-2 in shots on goal for the match. The Hurricanes did not have a shot in the second half of the match.
“I thought there were some high points today, and certainly there was an opportunity to walk out at least with a point. So it’s a disappointing result,” head coach Sarah Barnes told HurricaneSports.com after the match. “I think at the end of the day, there were some things defensively that we did very well to frustrate them and a couple of easy fixes that will help us continue to develop and be effective in conference play.”
The game-winning shot came in the 95th minute. Clemson senior Sam Staab crossed a ball into the box, and Speckmaier finhished the chance past Hurricanes keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
FIU men’s soccer
It was a split decision for the FIU Panthers men’s soccer team over the past week, with a disappointing result against an in-state rival but a win to keep the squad undefeated in conference play.
Last Tuesday, the UCF Knights traveled to FIU Soccer Stadium. The Knights scored first, with Zackary Waitman getting on the board in the fourth minute. Santiago Patino answered in the 23rd minute with an unassisted goal, Cal Jennings scored twice to give UCF the goals it would need to prevail, 3-1.
On Friday night, the UAB Blazers came to University Park, and took their match with FIU to overtime. Joris Ahlinvi proved to be the savior, scoring the match-tying (71st minute) and game-winning (109th minute) goals. That was good enough for Ahlinvi to claim the C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending Sept. 16.
FIU women’s soccer
The FIU women’s soccer team continued its ugly slide to start the season, with home losses to Florida Gulf Coast (5-1) and UTEP (2-0). The Panthers are still seeking their first victory of the season.
