USF Women's Soccer Takes on Miami in Second Game of the Season

Let's get this started!

After falling to UCF in the season opener on Friday night, USF, 0-1-0, retakes the field to take on Miami as they look to get their first win of the 2012 season.

Miami, coming off of their big 4 to 1 upset against the 21st ranked Gators, are looking to continue their hot start to the 2012 after a historic 2011 season(game begins at 1PM).  Last year, the lady Canes went 10-8-1 (3-6-1) and were 4-5 on the road as they recorded their first postseason win in program history.  They want to repeat their success, but the lady Bulls stand in the way and will make sure they leave Tampa with a loss.

Miami is led by senior forward Kate Howarth (5-6) who scored 11 goals last season (20 SOG) and added 7 assists as well, helping set up the other teammates.  She had 1 goal in the first game against UF.  Junior defender Tara Schwitter (5-4) scored 5 goals (17 SOG) and added 4 assists last season, coming up from the backline to attack.  Sophomore forward Ashley Flinn (5-9) scored 4 goals (14 SOG) and added 5 assists last season.  Senior midfielder Kim Hutchinson (5-4) added 4 assists last season and senior defender Fatimer Nasser (5-5) scored 3 goals last season (8 SOG) as a reserve last season.   The Canes added a top scorer that knows the USF team well in senior midfielder Tina Romagnuolo (5-2).  Romagnuolo joined Cuse as a transfer last season and brings some serious hardware from her Big East playing days.  She was a two time All Big East performer for Cuse and was ranked 5th all time in goals scored, so she will be a weapon to watch in the game.  She scored a goal in the first game as well.

In net, the Canes added Arkansas transfer sophomore Emily Lillard (5-10) who stopped 113 goals in her one year in the SEC, allowing 2.52 goals a game against her.  The returning depth behind her is sophomore Abbey Smith (5-10) who made just 2 saves last season in 113 minutes of action last season as the Canes look to replace last season's starter Vikki Alonso.  

The Bulls offense was fairly quiet against UCF and Demi Stokes was held in check (took no shots in the game).  The Bulls will need to dictate the pace of the game and get aggressive in their attack of the net to take the pressure off the defense and goalkeeper and get on the board early in this game.

The Bulls will hit the road to take on Indiana on the 24th in their first game on the road of 2012.