MOREHEAD, Ky. – Some days you are the bug. Some days you are the windshield.
In Thursday's Morehead State-Miami (Ohio) women's soccer game at the MSU Soccer Field in Morehead, Ky., the two teams combined for 18 shots. The Redhawks took 17, the Eagles took one. Morehead State won the game 1-0.
After seemingly being the bug all season, Thursday night, MSU was the windshield.
It was a reversal of fortunes for a team that had dropped three straight for the first time in three years, been outscored 15-2 on the season and had gone winless in weekday games this fall.
Part of the Eagles' success can be attributed to a reshuffling of their lineup. The Blue and Gold moved junior midfielder
Hannah Carter to the back line and the Redhawks had difficulty getting off quality attempts. Virtually every time the visitors attempted a shot, there was an Eagle in the area which forced MU to have to adapt.
Miami (3-3-0) was in control offensively most of the night, but Morehead State (2-4-0) took advantage of the one opportunity it had, which came in the 10th minute.
Freshman forward
Jade Walton passed the ball from the left side to the middle of the field where junior midfielder/defender
Hannah Burke was able to corral it on the right side of the box before tapping it over to senior midfielder
Kennedy Baquero, who spun and ripped an 18-yard shot from the right side to the left post past the unsuspecting Redhawk goalkeeper Dominique Popa.
It was Baquero's first goal of the season and the fourth of her career as an Eagle.
Miami kept attacking the MSU defense but had trouble getting off an unobstructed, quality attempt. Still Morehead State sophomore goalkeeper
Claire Cress made seven saves before raising her career shutout total to 4.5. She improved her record this season to 2-4-0.
The Redhawks had a 6-1 edge in shots in the first half and then an 11-0 advantage in the second. They also took nine corner kicks to just two for the Blue and Gold. Miami also had 10 fouls to Morehead State's eight. The visitors were offside twice, while the Eagles were not flagged. The Redhawks received two yellow cards. The hosts were presented one.
Miami held the advantage in possession 52 percent to 48 percent and it kept the ball in Morehead State's defensive zone for 75 percent of its time with the ball. Conversely, the Eagles were only on the attack for 30 percent of their time with the ball.
Kate O'Malley led the Redhawks with five shots. Shae Taylor added three. Popa did not make any saves. She fell to 3-3-0 with the loss.
MSU improved to 2-2 at home this season, while MU fell to 1-3 on the road, snapping a two-game winning streak in the process.
Morehead State goes on the road to face Radford on Sunday at 1 p.m. The team returns home to host Bellarmine on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
