Aug. 28, 2009

Box Score

CORAL GABLES - The University of Miami women's soccer team (2-1-0) overpowered the Ball State Cardinals (0-1-0) Friday night at Cobb Stadium as freshman Kate Howarth recorded a hat trick in the 5-1 victory.

Howarth, a starter for the first two games of the season, came off the bench and scored three goals in just her third collegiate game.

"Kate was good," said head coach Tricia Taliaferro. "You never know how a player will respond after getting pulled out of the starting lineup. She has been doing really well in practice... I think she showed why she is going to be a big contributor for us this year.

In the 37th minute, Howarth scored her first of three goals, as she played a long cross at midfield to a streaking Danielle Bidegain. After a great play to prevent the ball from crossing the sideline, Bidegain served up a perfect ball back to Howarth, who headed it in over the head of the charging keeper.

Only four minutes later, Howarth picked up her second goal after consecutive one touch passes from Katie Oddo and Emilie Huser deep in the Cardinals end. Howarth was rewarded by the great passes and put the ball into the empty net as Miami headed into the break with a 2-0 lead.

"After the second goal, I really wanted to get another one," said Howarth. "I kind of broke the seal and hopefully I can play like this for the rest of the season."

The Grand Blanc, Mich. native's third goal came on Bidegain's cross in the 66th minute. Howarth capitalized on the pass with a sliding one-timer over the keeper, to make it a 4-1 game. The assist was the second of the game for Bidegain.

Miami's third goal of the match came in the 55th minute, when Beverly Goebel juked her way through the defense on a 30-yard run to the top of the 18-yard box, where she then fed Julianne Rickers for the easy score.

Just minutes before the final horn, freshman Samantha Falk scored her first goal of her career. Courtney Alexander brought the ball up the left side of the field before leaving it to Brooke Van Aman, who then fed Falk at the far post, where the Jericho, N.Y. native tapped it in for a the fifth and final Hurricane goal.

The lone Ball State goal game early in the second half when Skylar Chew assisted Meg Mellott, who scored on a long shot from about 35 yards out.

The Hurricanes survived an early scare as Vikki Alonzo turned away a shot by Ball State's Missy Gordon in the third minute. The rebound fell to the foot of the Cardinals Meg Mellott, but she was also stoned by Alonzo and the ball was cleared away from danger.

Alonzo made three saves in just over 67 minutes in net, while freshman Ali Brennan made two saves in closing the game.

For the match, Miami was able to outshoot the visitors 16-10 despite being whistled for an astounding 23 offside calls, while Ball State had zero. So far this season, Miami has recoded a total of eight assists after three games after having only 17 for all of 2008.

The five goals for the `Canes were the most since an 8-0 win over Alabama A&M on Sept. 2, 2007. That game was also the last time a Miami player recorded a hat trick, when Brittney Steinbruch and Lauren Singer each scored three goals.

The Hurricanes have the week off before they welcome Navy, Dayton and Western Carolina to the University of Miami Tournament. UM will face Western Carolina on Friday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. While Dayton and Navy open play at 5 p.m. Tickets will be on sale at the Cobb Stadium gate at $5 for adults and $3 for children.