No. 2 Miami Secures Championship Spot with 1-0 Semifinal Win
| 1P | 2P | 3P | 4P | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MIA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
OXFORD, Ohio - No. 2 seed Miami (Ohio) (14-4) defeated No. 3 seed James Madison (9-9) 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Field Hockey Championship semifinal Thursday, Nov. 5, at Miami FH Stadium in Oxford, Ohio. Malena Sabez scored the winner at 3:35 of the first period.
Miami applied pressure early, with Bet Gifra forcing a save from Hannah Popolis at 1:36 following a penalty corner. Sabez then converted another penalty-corner opportunity for a 16th goal of the season, with Kylie Coughlin and Toto Scarlatti each recording an assist. Popolis stopped Scarlatti’s shot at 12:01 to keep James Madison within one goal as Miami finished the opening period with a 5-0 advantage in shots and four penalty corners.
Popolis made another save on Sabez at 23:44 after a penalty corner taken by Jilly Lawn. That was Miami’s only shot of the second period, and the score remained 1-0 at halftime. Miami added three shots and three penalty corners in the third period, including a Sabez attempt that was blocked at 42:08 following Coughlin’s corner. James Madison entered the fourth still without a shot.
James Madison’s lone attempt came at 52:16, when Emma Smit sent a shot wide following a penalty corner taken by Brynna Hill. James Madison removed Popolis at 54:25 and played the final 5:35 without a goalkeeper but could not find the equalizer. Sloane Wearren sent Miami’s final shot wide at 58:10.
Sabez finished with four shots, including two on goal. Miami outshot James Madison 12-1 overall, put four attempts on goal and held a 10-1 advantage in penalty corners. Popolis finished with three saves in 54:25, while Miami goalkeeper Macarena Gonzalez played all 60 minutes and recorded the shutout without needing a save.
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