Aug. 27, 2008
OXFORD, Ohio - With less than an hour left to play in the 2007 Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship Game, the Miami University field hockey squad led Ohio University, 2-0, and were looking an NCAA Tournament invitation in the face.
Two quick goals by the nationally-ranked Bobcats knotted the score and a goal from the top of the circle just two minutes into overtime ended Miami's dream of postseason play. The RedHawks' seven seniors' careers came to an end as did their 2007 season with a 10-11 record overall and runner-up finish in the MAC.
Replacing those seven seniors will be the first obstacle to overcome for the 2008-version of Miami Field Hockey. Gone are record-setting senior forwards Alyssa Nye and Taylor Florence. Nye left Oxford as the program's all-time leader in assists and ranks sixth in goals. Both Nye and Florence rank in the top-10 for career points and assists.
Not without key returners, however, the RedHawks return 53-percent of their goal scoring from a season ago and 57-percent of their assists. Members of this year's team accounted for 30-of-57 goals scored a year ago and 24-of-42 assists.
The RedHawks return every bit of goalkeeper play from the last two seasons. Senior Megan Stengel is the top returner after appearing in 16 games, winning seven contests, and stopping 52 shots on the year. Junior Kelsey Dean appeared in nine games a year ago and had a team-high .729 save percentage, totaling 35 stops. Freshman Abbey Huck ended her senior season at Emmaus High School in Pennsylvania as a state champion and a starter on the nation's No. 1 ranked team.
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At the back position, senior co-captain Danielle Gaynor returns to lead the way. Gaynor scored six goals and had four assists a year ago, earning Second Team All-MAC honors. Sophomore Katie Brightwell also returns, as does sophomore KC Stahlhuth. Stahlhuth appeared in four games as a freshman - all RedHawk wins. Senior Jessica Reading is another team leader at the back position. Reading had two assists last fall and started all but one game. Freshman Emily Anderson, a St. Louis product, adds depth to the MU backfield.
The midfielders are a significant strength for the RedHawks. Senior co-captain Elizabeth Gilroy will direct the RedHawks in the middle. Gilroy was named Second Team All-MAC in 2007 and led the RedHawks with eight assists and added two goals. Tricia Clark, a sophomore, scored one goal as a freshman.
Junior Maggie Marcum will split time between the back and midfield positions. Marcum gives MU speed in the front where she scored five goals and had two assists as a sophomore. Christine Brightwell adds talent to the RedHawk middle. Brightwell, a sophomore, scored five goals and had three assists as a freshman. Freshmen Christena Burell and Kylie Landeros also bring talent and ability to the middle, as do fellow freshmen Amanda Seeley and Brittany Branco who will add to the RedHawk depth.
The forward position for Miami consists of seniors Courtney Fretz and Teja Kammler, junior Mary Hull and sophomore Kate Snyder. Fretz has 10 career goals and four assists at Miami. Kammler played in all 21 games last year, setting a career high with five goals and added an assist. Hull returns from an injury in '07, when she scored two goals and had one assist in just one game. She scored nine goals and had two assists as a freshman in '06. Snyder returns to Oxford after spending the summer with the U.S. Olympic Field Hockey Regional program.
Freshman forward Jackie Nguyen enters the mix up front for Miami. She is one of four RedHawks from Scripps Ranch High School in Calif.
Miami begins their season on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30 and 31 when the RedHawks host the Miami Kick-Off Classic. The hosts play Davidson on Saturday at 1 p.m. and face Richmond at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
After traveling for two-game road weekends at Northwestern and Central Michigan, the RedHawks return for another four-team classic on Sept. 18-21 when they host the Miami September Showcase with Indiana, Pacific and Michigan State.
Mid-American Conference play begins the next week when Miami opens at Missouri State at 11 a.m. CT at Missouri State.
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