Norenberg ties career high with five saves

BUFFALO, N.Y. – For the first time this year, the Miami University women’s soccer team was shut out while Buffalo scored 1:18 into the first overtime to break a scoreless battle and hand the RedHawks a 1-0 loss, their first in Mid-American Conference action, Sunday afternoon at UB Stadium.

Miami (6-3-0, 1-1-0 MAC) fell to 1-2 in overtime games in 2011 while also seeing its four-game win streak snapped. The Bulls (8-2-0, 1-1-0 MAC) earned their league-best seventh shutout of the season while beating the RedHawks for just the second time in program history.

Neither side was able to generate many chances in the opening 45 minutes as both teams fired five shots, but just one shot on goal each. The Bulls did earn three corners, all consecutively in a three-minute stretch, but strong RedHawk defense denied the threats with redshirt freshman goalkeeper Allison Norenberg (Palatine, Ill.) making her lone save of the half on the final corner. Miami garnered a pair of corners of its own in the first period but was unable to capitalize either.

The game opened up in the second half with both squads generating more offense, but still neither team could find the back of the net. The Bulls registered 10 shots in the second stanza, including four on goal, but Norenberg was up to the task, denying each attempt. The ‘Hawks took seven shots but all three that were put on target were also stopped, sending the match to overtime knotted at zero.

“There wasn’t a lot of soccer played out there. That’s Sunday games, that’s FieldTurf and that’s the MAC. We have to be better under the conditions,” head coach Bobby Kramig said. “We were better Friday (a win over Kent State) in tough conditions but I’m not sure we can say that today. The kids played hard, I don’t question that, but we need to do a better job of settling the ball down and keeping it and being a bit more methodical with what we’re doing.“

Less than two minutes into the first extra session, Aubrey Stahl broke the deadlock for the Bulls, scoring the game-winning goal on the first shot of overtime for either team. Taylor Thompson picked up the assist on the game-ending goal.

Buffalo finished with a 16-10 edge in shots while Miami held a 5-4 advantage in corners with three of the five coming in the second half. Senior Giselle Mangal (Mississauga, Ont.) paced the ‘Hawks with three shots while junior Jess Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) booted two of Miami’s four shots on goal. Norenberg tied a career high with five saves while UB’s two keepers each made a pair of stops.

“We certainly gave a good effort in the game. The kids played hard and fought for it. It was a difficult Sunday game. There was a lot of crashing around on the field; neither team could really get control of the ball,” Kramig said. “Unfortunately, we got a bit flat-footed on a restart in overtime and the Buffalo player (Stahl) did a nice job finishing it off for the win. It’s disappointing but I was proud of our kids for the way they competed. It just didn’t go our way today.”

The RedHawks return home next weekend for their MAC home opener against Ball State on Friday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Miami then welcomes defending MAC regular-season champion Toledo on Sunday, Oct. 2, which will be Senior Day, at 1 p.m.

--MURedHawks.com--