Sept. 21, 2008
Box Score
Oxford, Ohio - Down 2-0 at the half, the Pacific field hockey team charged back in the second period to force overtime with goals from freshman Robin Nelson (Morgan Hill, Calif.) and sophomore Rachel Taylor (Southampton, N.Y.). However, it wasn't enough as the host Miami RedHawks defeated the Tigers, 3-2.
The loss dropped Pacific to 1-7 on the season, while Miami (OH) moved to 6-2 overall.
Miami controlled the first half, out shooting Pacific 14-3 and building a 6-4 edge on penalty corner chances. The RedHawks' first six shots of the half were denied by Pacific's tough defense, led by the play of sophomore goalkeeper Christina Niccum (Simi Valley, Calif.) Niccum saved three balls in the early going and finished with a game-high 13 saves.
The RedHawks, however, punched through at the 16:40 mark when Mary Hull fielding a crossing pass from Kate Snyder in the center of the circle. Hull blasted the ball by Niccum to give Miami a 1-0 lead.
Moments later Miami was held at bay thanks to a last second play by junior Brianna Cummins (Fallbrook, Calif.). Cummins' quick reflexes allowed her to race across the goal line and record her third defensive save of the season and denying Hull a second goal in as many minutes.
Unfortunately the Tigers were called for a penalty stroke just a few seconds later, the RedHawks' Katie Brightwell converted and Miami extended its lead to 2-0 with just over 15 minutes remaining in the first half. The Pacific defense responded with a shut-down intensity, refusing to let this game get out-of-reach.
The play of the defense sparked Pacific's offense early in the second period. Junior Katy McDonough (Ventura, Calif.) smacked a ball towards the goal. Alertly, Nelson redirected the attack away from Miami goalkeeper Megan Stengel. Nelson's play resulted in the freshman's first goal as a Tiger, cutting Pacific's deficit to 2-1.
The continued play of the Tigers' defense held Miami at bay, giving another Pacific duo the necessary time to knot the game up. With less than nine minutes remaining in the game, junior Kim Keyawa (Chico, Calif.) found Taylor free in front of the Miami net. Taylor grabbed the ball and flung it past Stengel to even the contest up at 2-2.
Miami held a series of chances to take the game in regulation with three shots and two penalty corners, but the Tigers held firm forcing overtime.
In the extra period, the host RedHawks took the ball and fired three shots at Niccum in the opening minute. The third shot proved too much for the Tigers as Elizabeth Gilroy corralled a rebound and ended the game with her fifth goal of the season.
In the contest, Miami out shot Pacific, 25-9 and finished the game with a 10-6 advantage in penalty corners.
The Tigers return to action on Saturday, Sept. 27 when Pacific faces NorPac rival Stanford in a non-conference contest at 1 p.m. in Stanford, Calif.
