Miami, Fla. ? On Sunday the Stetson women's soccer team finished up a disappointing road trip to Miami with a 2-1 loss to Florida International. The setback dropped Stetson's overall record to 2-4-1 heading into the A-Sun conference season.
The Golden Panthers opened the scoring at 16:20 of the first half when Caludia Cardenas scored an unassisted goal from just outside the penalty area. It was the first goal of her collegiate career.
Soon after the Hatters had an opportunity to even the score when Emily Ware took a pass in the middle of the penalty area with no defenders marking her, but her shot sailed high over the crossbar.
“We did not start well”, said Stetson Head Coach Julie Orlowski. “In particular we did not play well through the midfield”, she added.
It was much of the same to begin the second half. Hatter goalkeeper Andrea Garavaglia made a great save in the 58th minute when FIU's Cardenas took a pass from Maria Gualdron and got behind the Hatters' defense for a shot on goal. The save kept Stetson just one goal down. Garavaglia had five saves in the match.
Late in the second at 81: 12 Stetson freshman Natalie Simon sent a charge into the Hatter bench with the match equalizer and the first goal of her collegiate career. The goal was unassisted.
Just five minutes later the Hatters' charge was neutralized by Cardenas who scored her second goal of the game, as well as her career. She chipped home the game-winner for FIU (3-2-1) off an assist by Michelle Casadevall.
“It was disheartening”, said Orlowski. “We fought so hard to tie up the score and then gave up the winning goal with just three minutes on the clock.”
“It was a tough road trip. Other than the second half at Miami, with played with a lack of passion”, she continued. “With conference season starting next week we have a lot to work on.”
Stetson opens the Atlantic Sun Conference season on the road this Friday, September 28 at Kennesaw State and then plays Sunday at Mercer University.
