Kodiak ties the game in closing minutes of regulation

OXFORD, Ohio – Despite outshooting Eastern Michigan, 24-14, the Miami University women’s soccer team fell to the Eagles, 2-1, in overtime Sunday afternoon at Scicluna Field, as EMU picked up its first win of the season. The loss was the fifth straight for the RedHawks (6-7-0, 1-5-0 Mid-American Conference), their longest such streak since 2008, while Miami is now 1-3-0 in overtime contests this year.

Angela Vultaggio scored both goals for Eastern Michigan (1-10-2, 1-4-1 MAC), including the game-winner in the ninth minute of overtime, after junior Jess Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) knotted the game at 1-1 with just over three minutes left to play in regulation.

“I’m very proud of the way our team fought back and stuck with it after giving up an early goal. Our perseverance paid off with a well-deserved goal in the 87^th minute and it looked like the game might go our way,” head coach Bobby Kramig said. “Given our current run of luck there didn’t seem to be any point in playing for a tie so we gambled a bit by pushing up an extra player and Eastern took advantage of it for the game-winner.”

The Eagles jumped on top, 1-0, in the 11^th minute when Vultaggio scored on EMU’s only shot on goal of the opening half. Cara Cutaia picked up the assist as she crossed the ball and Vultaggio finished it off the side of her foot from in front of the net for the one-timer goal.

The half would end with the RedHawks behind, 1-0, despite holding a 10-6 edge in shots. EMU’s Maggie Manville stopped all four Miami shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes to keep Miami off the scoreboard.

The ‘Hawks would continue to test Manville in the second half, but she denied the first three attempts on target. Just over a minute after Manville stopped a shot from sophomore Katy Dolesh (South Euclid, Ohio), however, Kodiak registered the equalizer with 3:08 remaining on the clock. Senior Giselle Mangal (Mississauga, Ont.) set up the game-tying tally, which Kodiak buried from short range in front of the goal, tying her for the team lead with six goals.

Miami would close out regulation with a flurry of shots, including one that forced Manville into action, but the game remained even at 1-1 through 90 minutes. The ‘Hawks had a 21-13 edge in shots after two periods but EMU earned five corner kicks to Miami’s three.

In overtime, the RedHawks fired three more shots, including a rocket from Dolesh that hit the crossbar and a header from Dolesh that Manville saved, but it was not to be. With Miami putting the pressure on, the Eagles cleared the ball with a long pass that Vultaggio ran on to for a breakaway and beat redshirt freshman goalkeeper Allison Norenberg (Palatine, Ill.) for the game-winner in the 99^th minute.

“We have to learn from this and I am sure we will,” Kramig said. “We’ve got good players who work hard and compete. I remain completely confident in our team and I know we’ll find our way back on track.”

Manville ended with nine saves in the game while Norenberg stopped one of three EMU shots on goal. Dolesh paced the ‘Hawks with five shots.

Miami looks to snap its losing skid next weekend when the RedHawks wrap up their four-game road trip. Miami takes on Ohio on Friday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. before traveling to Akron to face the Zips on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m.

--MURedHawks.com--