Aug. 20, 2008
OXFORD, Ohio -
After a 2007 season in which the Miami University field hockey squad advanced to the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game, the RedHawks were ranked second in the 2008 MAC preseason coaches’ poll as announced by the conference office in Cleveland.
Miami was selected behind preseason-favorite Kent State, who the RedHawks defeated in the conference tournament semi-finals a season ago. The Golden Flashes are led by former Miami assistant coach Kathleen Schanne, who was tabbed the 2007 MAC Coach of the Year.
After being picked to win the conference the past two seasons, Miami head coach Jill Reeve is happy with the No. 2 ranking.
“It is good to be in an underdog role for once. Hopefully, it will motivate our team to prove themselves this season,” said the RedHawk mentor, now entering her fifth season.
“The No. 2 spot is where we ended last season, so that ranking makes sense,” Reeve ended.
The 2008 RedHawks will be led by senior co-captains Danielle Gaynor and Elizabeth Gilroy. Both midfielders were named Second Team All-MAC in 2007, while Gaynor also was named to the 2007All-MAC Tournament Team. Gaynor finished third on last year’s team with 16 points on seven goals and five assists, while Gilroy led the team with eight assists and had two goals.
Another strength of this season’s Miami squad will be the goalkeeper position. The RedHawks return senior Megan Stengel and junior Kelsey Dean. Stengel had team-highs in saves with 52 and wins with seven a year ago, while Dean stopped 73-percent of the shots she faced as a sophomore.
|
|
 |
Aside from Gaynor, Gilroy and Stengel, fellow seniors Teja Kammler, Jessica Reading and Courtney Fretz will lead the RedHawks, while experienced juniors Mary Hull, Katie Brightwell, and Maggie Marcum will add to the team leadership.
The RedHawks begin their 2008 season with the Miami Kick-off Classic on Aug. 30 and 31. Miami plays Davidson at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30 and will face Richmond at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31.
MAC play begins for Miami when they face Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, Mich. on 2 p.m. on Sept. 12.
2008 MAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Kent State
2. Miami
3. Ohio
4. Central Michigan
5. Ball State
6. Missouri State
|
|
||
| MuRedHawks.com WEB | ||
