Walter scores game-winner, Bronke tallies first career goal in 3-0 victory                

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Suffering a disappointing loss to IPFW last year in Oxford, the Miami University women’s soccer team made sure history did not repeat itself Friday night as the RedHawks avenged their 2012 loss with a 3-0 victory over the Mastodons at Hefner Soccer Field. Miami (3-1-0), which has now won its last three matches, fell to IPFW (2-3-0) in double overtime a season ago despite more than doubling them in shots.

“I thought it was a solid, professional effort on our part tonight. IPFW is a tough, competitive team and they came at us hard all night long,” head coach Bobby Kramig said. “Our kids did a good job keeping their composure and staying on task all night.”

For the second straight match, the RedHawks dominated the opening period and wasted little time scoring on Friday. After earning a corner kick in the 14th minute, junior midfielder Kelsey Dinges sent the ball into the box, where it bounced around until sophomore midfielder Haley Walter connected with the ball and put it in the upper right corner of the frame for a 1-0 Miami lead and her first tally of the year.

The RedHawks continued to keep the pressure on IPFW. In the 26th minute, Dinges nearly scored herself on a free kick, but her blast rang off the crossbar. Miami did double its lead in the 41st minute. After another free kick, freshman midfielder Taylor Jackson found senior midfielder Katy Dolesh, who blasted the ball past Mastodon keeper Sam Pavlika and into the left corner of the net. The goal was Dolesh’s second of the year, while Jackson earned her team-leading second helper of 2013 on the play.

Miami almost went up 3-0 in the closing seconds of half one but sophomore midfielder Jess Bronke’s rocket from 40 yards out sailed just over the goal. Miami took its 2-0 lead into halftime after outshooting IPFW, 10-0, during the first 45 minutes. The ‘Hawks held Belmont without a shot in the first half, as well, in Miami’s last game Aug. 30. The RedHawks also earned four corners in the first stanza while giving up just one.

The second half saw more of the same, as Miami forced IPFW into multiple fouls, while picking up three corner kicks in the first seven minutes. In the 63rd minute, Dinges had another good scoring chance, but Pavlika got her fingertips on the ball to tip it over the crossbar. The RedHawks then capped their scoring in the 77th minute when Bronke scored her first career goal at Miami. Following a scramble inside the penalty box, Bronke was able to boot the ball out of midair and beat Pavlika to her left side to complete the 3-0 victory.

Freshman goalkeeper Vic Maniaci made her first career start in net and picked up both her first career win and first collegiate shutout in her first action as a RedHawk. Miami’s defense contributed to the clean sheet, playing strong in the back and preventing the Mastodons from even putting a shot on target. The 'Hawks have not allowed a goal in any of their last three games.

“Congrats to Vic on her first collegiate start, shutout and victory,” Kramig said. “She wasn’t terribly busy but what she needed to do, she did, and I’m pleased with her performance.

Miami finished with a 13-3 edge in shots for the match, including 7-0 in shots on goal, but Pavlika made a pair of saves in each half to keep IPFW in the contest. The RedHawks racked up five more corner kicks in the second stanza and finished with a 9-2 advantage in corners on the night.

The RedHawks look to continue their winning streak Sunday when they host Louisville at Miami Soccer Field at 1 p.m. Senior goalkeeper Allison Norenberg, who had started the first three matches this year and every match the previous two seasons, is scheduled to be back in net against the Cardinals.

--MURedHawks.com--