Taylor Shell’s late exploits lift Miami above Florida for the first time since 2012

Canes Women’s Soccer players huddle in the Cobb Stadium before their game against FAU on August 22, 2021. Copyright: Jared Lennon

In Gainesville, Florida, over 99 minutes of heated, physical football went by on Sunday afternoon.

Both Miami and Florida combined 28 fouls, 23 shots and 11 corners, but none of their Sunshine State rivals managed to score at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

The war of attrition finally ended when junior midfielder / defender Taylor Shell was an example of UM’s newly adopted relentless mentality.

After a yellow card for Florida defender Anna DeLeon, the Hurricanes (2-1) took their last unique opportunity. Shell shot down towards the penalty mark and scored a goal in the lower left corner in the 99th minute to give UM its first win over Florida since 2012.

While the Gators (0-3-1) only scored seven shots on goal in extra time before Miami, goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais continued to shine in goal. The junior made a total of seven saves with high play value and remained for the second time in three games without conceding a goal.

Dagenais rallied their final save after a free kick rejected by the top center to keep UM above the surface as the last five minutes of the second half had passed.

Shell and Dagenais teamed up to deny UF two chances in the 69th minute, while the Hurricanes came closer to gaining advantage two minutes later.

After a yellow card – Florida’s first and only in the second half – for striker Kouri Peace, midfielder / striker María Jakobsdóttir was just inches away from her first goal of the season in the 61st minute. The native Icelander from Garðabær, however, watched her shot travel up. Florida striker Kit Loferski – the Gators’ top scorer – stood free and fired a shot in the 93rd minute, which was blocked by Miami’s defense in the penalty area.

Although her third shot was missed in the 61st minute, Jakobsdóttir fed Shell to her first in 2021.

Shell’s decisive goal came after UM lead with three shots on goal in their 2-0 home defeat by Lipscomb at the ASUN conference on Thursday.

With his third swamp win in 11 meetings of all time, Miami turns to yet another opponent of the Southeastern Conference in Missouri on Thursday. The kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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