Wednesday September 25, 2002

Miami tops Florida International 5-1, FIU ties Record

Photo by Geoff Anderson Junior Goalkeeper Adrienne McWilliams stops a first half shot. McWilliams recorded 8 saves in the match, but it wasn't enough to prevent the 5-1 loss.

he Florida International University Women's Soccer team went down in history Wednesday night in front of a crowd of 390 spectators, but it was for the wrong reason. By falling 5-1 to the University of Miami at University Park, FIU extended its overall losing streak to seven games and tied a school record for consecutive losses.

Early on in the match, it looked as though the Golden Panthers would rise up in this rivalry game and equal Miami's intensity, but the battle for possession soon went the Hurricanes' way and they got on the board in the tenth minute thanks to an Allison McWhinney strike from 40 feet. From that point on, the Hurricanes controlled the ball and the field, and they eventually tacked on another goal at the end of the first half, a Lindsey Yach shot assisted by Sophomore Midfielder Britney Butcher.

Britney Butcher soon scored her own goal early in the second half, making the score 3-0. She was assisted on the play by Sophomore Midfielder Gitana Gotay, who threaded a long pass to Butcher between two FIU defenders.

The match threatened to get totally out of hand in the later stages of the second half as Miami added two more goals in the seventy-fifth and seventy-eighth minutes respectively. On the first goal, Sophomore Defender Andrea Radice rocketed a shot from 50 ft past the Golden Panther defense and into the net. The second goal came courtesy of Junior Midfielder Allison McWhinney on a rebound, giving her two goals for the match.

Fortunately for the Golden Panthers, they were able to rally from the disappointing start, and carry themselves well in the final minutes. While holding Miami scoreless the rest of the way, FIU went on the attack, and for the second time in the match, they looked like Miami's equal. Senior Forward Nicola Bell's charge and cross in the eighty-third minute perfectly set up a Rossana Lopez finisher. Bell would come up with a similar effort a few moments later, but this time no one was home, and FIU's rally had officially been stymied.

The Hurricanes (7-3) enjoyed many of the same advantages shared by most FIU opponents this season; namely, a decided edge in corner kicks won, goals attempted, shots on goals, and most importantly, goals scored. When it was all said and done, the rival Canes outshot the Golden Panthers 30-6, kicked 13 corners to FIU's one, and outscored Florida International 5-1.

For FIU Junior Goalkeeper Adrienne McWilliams, her game was once again a mixed bag. She did allow 5 goals and lost her seventh straight decision, but she also recorded 8 saves and faced 30 shots. With 74 saves on the year, she is currently on pace to break the school record of 140 set in 1989 by Donna Jean Enright.

The Golden Panthers (0-8-1) next host Middle Tennessee in a Sun Belt conference match-up Friday night at 6:00 p.m. at University Park.