Oct. 15, 2009

OXFORD, Ohio – In the last weekend of a two-week home stretch, the Miami field hockey team is preparing to face off against the visiting California Golden Bears and Michigan Wolverines. The RedHawks will take the field this Friday at 2 p.m. against California to kick off Women’s Bicentennial Reunion Weekend, and then Sunday at noon against Michigan at the Miami Field Hockey Complex. Sunday will also serve as Senior Night for the team during which each of the four Miami seniors will be recognized for their outstanding achievements while wearing the red and white.

The RedHawks are coming off of a tough stretch as they were 0-3-0 last week, falling to No. 20 Ohio State, Kent State and Ohio. They are now 8-7-0 on the season and 5-2-0 in Mid-American Conference play. Despite the rough week, the RedHawks still have a strong hold on second place in the MAC. The Miami offense was led by senior Maggie Marcum last week with two goals and one assist. She is now tied for second on the team with eight goals on the year, which is a new career-high.

Miami will open the weekend with the Friday contest against the California Golden Bears who are currently 4-8-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the NorPac Conference. In their last outing the Golden Bears defeated rival UC Davis 6-1 at home this past Saturday. Prior to the victory, California had lost its past three contests, falling to Indiana, Iowa and Northwestern. The team has been led this season by junior forward Natalie Nurnberg who boasts a team-leading six goals, six assists and 19 points in 2009.

Michigan is 6-8-0 so far in 2009 and 2-1-0 in Big Ten conference play. Before traveling to Oxford this weekend, the Wolverines will take on Miami’s neighbor to the north, the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday. Heading into the weekend, Michigan is fresh off of a narrow loss to New Hampshire 3-2 in double overtime on Sunday that snapped a four-game winning streak. The Wolverines are led by junior midfielder/back Meredith Way who has found the net 12 times so far in 2009 and leads the team in points with 25.

After having played its last six-games at home, Miami will be back on the road to resume conference play next weekend as the team heads to Springfield, Mo. to take on the Bearcats of Missouri State at noon on Sunday, Oct. 25.

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