MIAMI, Fla. - The Old Dominion University women’s soccer team (1-6-2) played their first Conference USA of the 2014 season against FIU (6-4-0) and it was the Panthers who picked up a 2-1 victory on Friday night at the FIU Soccer Arena.
For Old Dominion this was its eighth match decided by one goal or less in just nine contests.
Head coach Angie Hind exclaimed after the match, "I felt we started the game bright and had a few early shots on goal and looked to move the ball well. It was therefore disappointing to lose the goal and then another soon after. Again we started bright in the second half and Melanie's strike gave us a lift, but despite a couple of chances we just couldn't get enough pressure on their goal to get the second goal back. We are a little disappointed not to take something from the game, to be honest, as I felt it was a very even match."
FIU would get the scoring going in the 21st minute, when Ashleigh Shim one-timed a pass to Chelsea Leiva, who found the back of the net to lift the Panthers to a 1-0 lead early in the first half.
Midway through the opening half, Leiva struck again, this time off a cross from Scarlet Montoya, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead going into halftime.
At the half, FIU led the shot count 8-4, while neither team attempted a corner kick in the opening 45 minutes.
The Lady Monarchs would cut their deficit to one just two minutes into the second half, when Jessie Klamut dribbled the ball down field and found Melanie Oakes, who buried the ball inside the left post, making the score 2-1 in the 47th minute.
That would be the end of the scoring for the match, leaving FIU with a 2-1 victory. ODU GK Erin Kinz collected four saves in 90 minutes of work, while FIU’s Nevena Stojakovic made three saves.
For the game, the Panthers attempted 12 shots to ODU’s nine. Both teams took one corner each, respectively.
NEXT UP FOR THE LADY MONARCHS
Meet FAU – Sunday, Sept. 28 – 1:00 p.m. at the FAU Soccer Stadium
FAU carries a 5-4-1 record into the weekend and will play its first Conference USA match this Friday against Charlotte. The Owls are currently 2-1-1 while playing at home this season. Florida Atlantic averages 1.00 goal a game off 11.9 shot attempts.
Leading the way for FAU has been Claire Emslie, who has compiled seven points with three goals off a team-leading 27 shots. Hilldur Hauksdottir has netted two goals this season.
Goalkeeper Sydney Drinkwater has played all 855 minutes for the Owls this season, allowing a 0.95 goal against average, making 38 saves and earning four shutouts.
Florida Atlantic was predicted to finish eighth in the Conference USA Preseason Poll.
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