University of Delaware Athletics
Miller's Two Goals Help UD Overcome Slow Start to Down Towson 4-2 (Oct. 23, 2011)
10/23/2011 2:18:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Boxscore
TOWSON, Md. – They say it's not how you start, but how you finish. And the University of Delaware women's soccer team overcame a slow start Sunday afternoon, eventually downing Towson University 4-2 in Colonial Athletic Association action.
It was the second game in a row the Hens found themselves down 1-0 in the first two minutes, but behind two goals from junior forward Ali Miller and one each from Mel Pennington and Amy Pickard, Delaware picked up a win in its final CAA road game of the year. Miller chipped in an assist, as did Pickard and Tania Dominigos.
The Hens improved to 8-6-3 overall and 4-3-2 in the CAA, logging their first winning season since 2005 when Delaware went 10-6-4, qualifying for the CAA tournament.
Towson (9-9-0, 4-6-0 CAA) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after Emily Banes posted her eighth goal of the year in the second minute. But the Hens got an answer from Pennington in the 21st minute to knot the action at 1-1.
Delaware nearly got to the halftime break tied with Towson, but Rhianna Zalewski scored her first career goal with four second left in the opening stanza to send the Tigers into halftime up 2-1.
But the Hens rallied midway through the second half, rattling off three straight goals in the final 30 minutes. Miller opened the scoring in the second half, tallying her eighth goal of the year on an Amy Pickard pass.
Pickard gave Delaware a piece of insurance in the 72nd minute as she tallied her ninth of the year, ripping a shot after getting behind the Towson defense. Miller capped the game with an unassisted tally in the 83rd minute, her ninth of the season.
Breanna Stemler got the victory in goal for Delaware, snapping a four-game winless streak. The Hens' last victory came on Oct. 7 against Old Dominion as the Hens suffer two losses and two ties since that game. Stemler made a pair of saves in her 90 minutes of action.
Delaware controlled the offensive flow of the game, taking 14 total shots, including nine on goal, while Towson took just seven total shots in the game. The Hens' high-pressure offense was rewarded with six corner kicks as Towson earned just two, both in the first half.
The Hens' shooters peppered Erin Quinn, the Tigers' goalkeeper, forcing her to make five saves in the second half, but allowing three goals.
Pickard's 24 career goals are tied for fifth all-time at Delaware. She is tied with Brittany Campbell, who tallied 24 from 1999-2002. Pickard has recorded 53 career points on 24 goals and five assists, good enough to tie her with Mandy Merritt (1997-2000) in seventh place.
Were thrilled with the result this afternoon. The girls showed tons of heart coming back twice today,” said Delaware head coach Scott Grzenda, who won his 202nd career game. “We need to get everyone healthy and start preparing for UNCW on Friday.”
Delaware's next game will be on Friday, Oct. 28 as the Hens make up a game with UNCW after the contest, originally scheduled to be played in Newark, was rained out. Friday's game will be held at VCU in Richmond, Va. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Sports Backers Stadium.
