Kodiak ties game in closing seconds, Dolesh tallies game winner in second overtime

ATHENS, Ohio – For the third straight season, the Miami University women’s soccer team defeated Ohio in overtime, as junior Jess Kodiak tied the game in the closing seconds of regulation and sophomore Katy Dolesh scored the game-winner in the second overtime for a 2-1 RedHawk win Friday afternoon at Chessa Field. The victory over the Mid-American Conference East Division-leading Bobcats (6-8-1, 3-3-1 MAC) snaps a five-game losing streak for Miami (7-7-0, 2-5-0 MAC).

“We’ve known all along that we had a good team with good players. It just wasn’t going for us,” head coach Bobby Kramig said. ”Today we grew up a little bit and matured as a team. We learned about what it takes to win in this conference and I couldn’t be more proud of my team.”

Miami dominated the first half, holding a 15-1 edge in shots, but Bobcat goalkeeper Mattie Liston made 10 saves to keep the RedHawks off the scoreboard. The ‘Hawks used a strong wind to help the attack but Liston denied several promising chances, including a breakaway from freshman Hailey Pleshakov (Brighton, Mich.) in the 32^nd minute. Miami also earned seven of its nine corner kicks over the first 45 minutes, but was unable to capitalize. The Bobcats had four corners in the opening period.

The second half was more evenly matched but Ohio managed to strike first when Toye Famodu scored off a corner kick in the 73^rd minute. Kelsey Pichel sent the corner into the mixer in the middle of the box and the ‘Hawks blocked attempts by Natalie Bechtel and Ainsley Bodi before Famodu cleaned it up for the 1-0 Bobcat advantage.

The RedHawks’ hard luck looked like it would continue to plague them, despite shots being even in the second half, but Miami finally caught a break in the final minute. With time in regulation winding down, senior Haley Clark (London, Ont.) sent a cross from one side of the penalty box to the other, where Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) was camped out. She gathered the ball, took a touch and beat Liston far post with just 10 seconds left to even the match at 1-1 and force overtime. It was her team-leading seventh goal of the year

Miami managed the only shots of the first overtime with Liston stopping Pleshakov again, which was the only shot on goal of the 10-minute extra session. In the second overtime, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Allison Norenberg (Palatine, Ill.) made her only save of either additional period early on to keep the ‘Hawks alive. After controlling possession much of the second overtime, in the 107th minute, Dolesh (South Euclid, Ohio) tickled the twine to give Miami the 2-1 victory and snap the skid. Senior Giselle Mangal (Mississauga, Ont.) set up the game-winning score with a pass to the middle of the box that Dolesh finished in the back left corner of the cage for her fifth goal of 2011.

“What can you say about Jess Kodiak and Katy Dolesh?” Kramig said. “Great players score great goals and the composure each showed in front of the goal today demonstrates why they are among the league’s top strikers.”

The RedHawks finished with a 28-10 advantage in shots and a slight, 9-8, edge in corner kicks. Pleshakov paced Miami with seven shots, including three on target, while Dolesh put all four of her blasts on frame. Liston had a stellar game, compiling 13, saves while Norenberg ended with four, including three in the second period.

“Our back line played its best game of the year today and that’s where it has to start for us,” Kramig noted. “They kept it tight and together for the entire match, which kept us in the game until the very end.”

Miami beat Ohio, 1-0, in the first overtime in Oxford last year and topped the Bobcats, 1-0, in double overtime in Athens in 2009. The RedHawks are now 2-3 in extra-session matches in 2011.

Miami looks to keep its momentum rolling Sunday when it plays at Akron at 1 p.m. to wrap up a four-game road trip.

--MURedHawks.com--