| BOCA RATON, Fla. – In the Conference USA opener for both teams, it was Miracle Porter’s goal with 2:30 to go in the second overtime that pushed Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team past North Texas, 2-1. The Mean Green, who are receiving votes nationally, suffered just its second loss of the season. The Beginning / The Turning Point: After nearly a scoreless first half, both teams scored within a minute of each other (1:02 to be exact). It was UNT (5-2-2, 0-1-0 C-USA) first, with just 4:48 left before the break. But Mia Sennes equalized, off an entry pass that started from Hunter Koziara through Thelma Hermannsdottir. Sennes’ attempt just crossed over the goal line to make it 1-1. The Finish: The Owls (3-4-2, 1-0-0 C-USA) outshot the Mean Green 11-4 after halftime, including a 7-2 advantage in the second half, with Porter nearly putting in the go-ahead goal in the 63rd, turned away by a UNT defender after she had beaten the keeper. But in the 108th minute, she did both, coming across the face of the box, separating past the back, and firing it past the outstretched dive of the GK. Notables:Porter put two of her three shots on goal, trailing only Gi Krstec’s six attemptsShe recorded the fourth game-winner among, now, 12 career goalsEight of the team’s 17 total shots were on targetPlaying the entire 107:30 were Amit Cohen (only needing one save, as UNT had just two shots on goal on seven attempts), Emma Grissom, Hunter Koziara, Hailey Landrus, Amanda Martin and Jodi Smith. Krstec was on for 98 minutes, and Porter 97Quotable: “We’ve been so close in so many other games and haven’t got the rub of it,” said head coach Patrick Baker. “Tonight, I thought we outpossessed, we outshot, we had more corners … (against) a team that is receiving votes, had only lost one game to Baylor, out of the Big 12. “It was just wonderful to have a really big-time team here at home to start off conference play, I know there was going to be a lot of eyes on this result. We got a win at home, and then we have to put our hard hats on when we go on the road the rest of the fall.” “It means a lot,” said Porter of getting the C-USA opener win. “We had a good non-conference, it wasn’t as good as we wanted it to be, but I think (tonight) was a good start. We’re showing how we want to start conference (play).” Full Video with Coach Baker: Full Video with Porter: What’s Next: The Owls are on the road Sunday night for a 7 p.m. kick at FIU. |
