Women’s Soccer: Owls defeat Miami Hurricanes 3-1
Asta Arnadottir finds goal twice in home opening win.
The Owls celebrate Asta Arnadottir’s first goal in the 38th minute of the first half of Friday’s 3-1 win. Max Jackson|Staff Photographer
September 5, 2015
Women’s soccer won their home opener 3-1 Friday night versus the Miami Hurricanes, after opening their season with four straight road games.
Sophomore midfielder Asta Arnadottir started the game’s scoring in the eighth minute, with a shot from outside the box that found the net. Her second goal of the year gave the Owls a 1-0 lead.
“She had a wonderful spring, I think it’s carried over into the fall,” said head women’s soccer coach Patrick Baker. “We need that [early] production and she’s been able to provide that. We’re excited about where her game is at, but she’s still got a lot of better soccer ahead of her.”
Redshirt junior defender Erica Burt extended the Owls’ lead with a goal of her own in the 23rd minute. After receiving the corner kick from freshman midfielder Mimi Godoy, Burt headed the ball past Miami goalkeeper Catalina Perez to put FAU ahead by two.
The second half began with Hurricanes defender Gianna Del Pazzo receiving a yellow card in the 53rd minute. FAU’s Madison Caldwell received the only other card of the game, a yellow in the 79th minute.
Arnadottir found the net once again in the 63rd minute. Passes from junior forward Geovana Alves and senior midfielder Claire Emslie set up her goal, which put the Owls up 3-0.
Miami scored their lone goal of the game when a header by forward Grace Rapp landed at the feet of forward Gracie Lachowecki, who put the attempt away to make it 3-1 in the 86th minute.
Redshirt junior goalie Sydney Drinkwater made four saves in the winning effort, while Hurricanes goalie Catalina Perez made one stop.
“Well, I’m disappointed we didn’t get the shutout,” Baker said. “But in fairness, I thought we limited their really good looks. Against A&M on Sunday, Drinkwater proved why she’s such a good goalkeeper. I think she made the one tip save at the end, but other than that she didn’t get a lot of looks.”
An FAU Athletics representative reported an attendance of 672 people for the game, forcing the program to bring in several sets of portable bleachers to accommodate the large crowd.
“We know we’ve got to win,” Baker said of the home-field environment. “We have to put a good product on the field. We have to send fans home happy. They come here and they see us beat Miami, hopefully that’s a step in the right direction for other home games, you know. They’ll come out and want to support.”
The Owls will head to Jacksonville University on Sept. 9 to face the Dolphins on the road at 7 p.m. The game is available to watch on ESPN3.
Ryan Lynch is the sports editor for the University Press. For tips regarding this or other articles, he can be contacted at [email protected] or on Twitter.
