UTRGV falls to Miami Hurricanes

The Vaqueras lost 4-0 last night in their home opener against the University of Miami as part of the UTRGV Tournament.

The UTRGV Women’s Soccer Team had a lot on its shoulders playing against the 2018 defending national champions. Nonetheless, the Miami Hurricanes destroyed any efforts by the UTRGV Team to take home the victory.

It only took 20 minutes of the game before senior midfielder Christina Fisher scored for the Hurricanes and took the lead.

Despite the Vaqueras’ efforts to come back, the Hurricanes took the lead as the first half came to an end.

“There was only one chance on target, and they scored,” UTRGV Women’s Soccer Team Head Coach Glad Bugariu said. “I thought we played pretty well in the first half, I thought we had a good response beginning at the second half. But there was a five- to eight-minute stretch there that basically cost us the game.”

As the second half began, UTRGV did everything to maintain the difference from growing. However, within 19 minutes into the second half, Miami gained a penalty, setting the score at a 3-0 three minutes after Bayleigh Chaviers had just scored the second goal for the Hurricanes.

“We’re really just trying to get in rhythm,” University of Miami Head Coach Sarah Barnes said. “It took us a little while to get going. I thought Rio Grande Valley did a really great job defensively in being very organized and making it harder for us to break them down.”

UTRGV was able to maintain its head high and use this experience as preparation for the next game.

Especially goalkeeper and Captain Kinga Szemik, who demonstrated her experience obtained from the Polish U20 National Team this summer by helping the team with two key saves as the game came to an end.             

Despite the Vaqueras’ efforts, the final score ended 4-0 in favor of the Hurricanes.

“If we look at the overall game and take away seven to eight minutes of that second half, it’s a little more unfair the result than what it really was,” he said. “We need to have a response. The best way to get over a loss like this is to respond with a win.”

Bugariu said UTRGV will keep on preparing to come up with a response for the next upcoming game.

The Vaqueras will take on Alabama State University at 7 p.m. Saturday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex as part of the UTRGV Tournament.