Nov. 8, 2002
Oxford,Ohio -Less than 24 hours after being named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, senior Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, OH/Fairfield) recorded her first career hat-trick as the Miami women's soccer team defeated Bowling Green State University on Friday afternoon before a record crowd at Miami Soccer Field to advance to the Mid-American Conference championship.
The RedHawks, who improve their overall record to 17-2-2 and their all-time MAC tournament record to 10-0-1, notched their seventh MAC tournament shutout.
Through the first 41 minutes, both teams were scoreless and had squandered chances to take the early advantage.
Berkemeier broke the scoreless tie when her corner kick flew through the box into the far post before dribbling in the goal for a 1-0 lead while the clock read 41:16.
Despite Berkemeier's incredible score, the RedHawks and Falcons played even through the first half. Both teams equaled seven shots while Miami freshman goalkeeper Leigh Terry (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) made one save to Bowling Green senior goalkeeper Erika Flander's two.
In the second half, the RedHawks appeared to wear down the Falcon team who played on only two days rest after a double-overtime victory over Buffalo on Wednesday.
Miami took over in the second half as they outshot Bowling Green 12-1.
Berkemeier struck again in the 81st minute off a cross by redshirt freshman Jessica Godshall (Villa Hills, KY/Notre Dame Academy). Berkemeier put the cross in the back of the net as a Bowling Green defender appeared to lose her footing in the Falcon box.
With less than three minutes remaining, Berkemeier became the second RedHawk in consecutive games to score a hat trick. Senior Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, OH/McAuley) found Berkemeier at midfield as Flanders left the wide open net in order to shorten the Falcon field. Berkemeier's third score on only her third shot of the game rolled in the goal from midfield to make the final score 3-0. Cunningham, the 2001 MAC Player of the Year, scored her second career hat trick in Miami's quarterfinal victory over Central Michigan on Tuesday.
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The third-seeded Ohio Bobcats knocked off Ball State, 1-0, in the morning MAC quarterfinal to set up the championship contest between the 2001 MAC regular season champions and the 2002 MAC regular season champions. The RedHawks, a 2001 MAC tournament third-seed, went on to win the tournament crown last season and earn the NCAA bid.
Miami will play its final home game on Sunday at 1 p.m. as Miami goes for its third straight MAC tournament title.
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