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Sept. 20, 2001
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REDHAWKS OPEN LEAGUE PLAY WITH DIFFICULT ROAD MATCH: Fresh off a big non-conference defeat of Cincinnati last Monday, Miami University's women's soccer team opens league play this Friday in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., taking on a dangerous Central Michigan team.
In what the league coaches projected to be the top battle in the league this season, Miami, picked first in the MAC preseason poll, looks to earn its first regular season defeat of Central Michigan, picked second in the MAC preseason poll. The RedHawks, who have never returned from Mt. Pleasant with a victory, face a CMU team fresh off a 4-0 defeat of Northern Illinois, which ended the Chippewas' four-game season-opening winless streak.
Challenged by a difficult non-conference schedule, CMU has absorbed one-goal losses to Pitt, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette this season, while earning a tie versus Duquesne. Through their first four games, the Chippewas found the back of the net just three times, but led by Sabrina Borgquist's two-goal outing versus Northern Illinois last Monday, in which it attempted a program-record 38 shots, CMU appears to have broken out of its funk just in time for the start of league play.
Goalkeepers Kari Alexander and Elizabeth Quiney have split time in goal for the Chippewas this season. Alexander, who blanked the Huskies on Monday, has a 0.83 goals against average in 217 minutes of play, while Quiney, a veteran senior with a 1.34 career GAA, has a 1.37 GAA in 264 minutes. CMU's defense has given up just six goals in five games this season and has not allowed more than two goals in a game.
Central Michigan, which is coached by fourth-year mentor Mark Salisbury, has employed a very balanced scoring attack this season. Five different players have combined for a total of seven goals, with Borgquist's two goals leading the way.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES: From the very beginning, a 1-1 tie in 1998 that was played in a downpour, Miami has struggled versus Central Michigan. In three meetings since that first match, the RedHawks have lost twice by a combined score of 6-1. Miami's only win came in the form of a 2-1 MAC Semifinal victory in 1999. The RedHawks are winless versus CMU in three regular-season outings. The Chippewas defeated the Red and White 3-0 in the teams' last meeting in Mt. Pleasant, which ironically came after a Miami defeat of Cincinnati and ended Miami's record nine-game winning streak.
MIAMI AWAY FROM HOME: Miami, which is at the conclusion of what has become a season-opening six-game roadstand, has been a spectacular team at home but just an average team on the road, posting a 21-21-2 (.500) record in five seasons. Of four previous seasons, Miami's only season with a winning road record was 1999 when it compiled an 8-3-1 mark, including the majority of a program-best six-game road unbeaten streak. The Red and White used a strong postseason run to finish the 2000 road ledger at 5-5-0. Of 14 Miami losses and ties over the past three seasons, 11 have come away from home. This season, Miami has been strong on enemy territory, assembling a 3-0-0 record when playing at an opponent's venue, compared to an 0-2-0 mark when playing at neutral sites.
MIAMI IN THE MAC: Now entering its fifth season in the Mid-American Conference, Miami owns a 19-18-2 regular-season record versus MAC opponents. Since struggling to just four combined league wins through their first two seasons, the RedHawks have begun to assert themselves over the past two years, winning eight league contests in 1999 and seven in 2000. Despite the recent successes in league play, Miami has had its problems in league openers, winning just one of four MAC openers. The RedHawks won their only MAC opener last season when they defeated Ball State 2-1 in overtime.
A LOOK BACK: Last Monday, Miami pulled above .500 for the first time this season by knocking of Cincinnati 1-0 on the Bearcats' home turf. Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) provided all the offense Miami would need, lofting a shot just over the outstretched hands of Bearcat goalkeeper Christy Hoffman in the 11th minute and ending Hoffman's more than 370-minute scoreless streak. Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) and Danielle Altiero (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) assisted on the goal.
Defensively, Miami, led by junior netminder Katie Karlander's (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse) second shutout as a RedHawk, restricted the Bearcats to just 11 total shots. Karlander made six saves on the night while defending well against five UC corner kicks.
HEAD COACH BOBBY KRAMIG: Entering his fifth season at the helm of Miami's women's soccer program is veteran head coach Bobby Kramig. Kramig, who has headed the women's program since its inception in 1997, has been the mentor of Miami Soccer for the past 18 years.
As women's coach, Kramig has successfully guided the program through its transition from club to varsity status. In 1997, the inaugural team finished the season ranked fourth in the nation among first-year programs and placed three players on the Soccer Buzz magazine first-year all-national team. In 1999, Kramig led the RedHawks to a landmark season that included a trip to the MAC Championship match and a Miami record 17 wins.
Last season, Kramig led the Red and White deep into the postseason, guiding the RedHawks to a 13-8-0 overall record, a MAC Tournament Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. Kramig's soccer team was the only Miami team sport to make an NCAA Tournament appearance in the 2000-01 campaign.
Now in its fifth season, Miami has compiled a 45-34-4 mark (.566), including an astonishing mark of 31-11-1 (.733) and consecutive MAC Championship appearances during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
ROAD WARRIORS: RedHawk soccer fans have not had any opportunities to see their favorite team in action early in the 2001 season. With the postponement of last Friday's home opener versus Toledo, which has been rescheduled for Oct. 4, Miami now plays its first six games on the road. The Red and White plays its home opener this Sunday versus Utah. Even with the Utah contest, Miami still will have played eight of its first nine games on the road.
During Miami's travels, the RedHawks play in five different states (Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and New York) and travel more than 2,340 miles. Miami's foes during the difficult roadstand include, SMU which entered the season nationally ranked, Georgetown, Wright State, which was tabbed to finish second in the Horizon League, Cincinnati, which was picked fourth in Conference USA, Central Michigan, which was tabbed second in the MAC's preseason poll, and defending MAC regular-season champion Buffalo.
BERKEMEIER'S AMAZING RUN: Though the 2000 season paled statistically when compared to her sensational freshman campaign, Miami forward Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) peaked at the right time and has been riding high ever since. Beginning with Miami's 2-0 MAC Semifinal defeat of Buffalo last season, in which she tallied the game-winning goal, Berkemeier has tallied a goal or assist in eight consecutive contests. Berekemeier has found the back of the net in six of the last eight games. The junior has netted three game-winning goals during the stretch while assisting on another.
CUNNINGHAM STILL ON THE MOVE: Following a remarkable 2000 campaign in which she earned first-team all-America status from the NSCAA, junior forward Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) has picked up where she left off. Though she was kept off the scoreboard in season-opening losses to SMU and Georgetown, Cunningham came to life last weekend, tallying three goals and an assist, including her eighth career multiple-goal game versus Wright State. Versus Cincinnati, the junior extended her goal-scoring streak t0 three games, tallying the game-winner. Despite the strong non-conference start, Cunningham traditionally has been stronger versus MAC foes, netting 21 of her 34 career goals in MAC outings.
LENDING A HELPING FOOT: Known as a playmaking midfielder, Miami sophomore Danielle Altiero (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) was at her best in a 3-0 blanking of Wright State on Sept. 7. Altiero assisted on all three Miami first-half goals to establish a Miami record. Altiero has amassed a total of six career assists, including four this season, in her first 26 games as a RedHawk, and is easily on pace to rank among the program's all-time assist leaders.
GETTING FORWARD: Thus far, Miami's forward corps has provided all of the pop the RedHawk offense has displayed. The trio of Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield), Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) and Brooke Paul (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart), who coincidentally rank as the top three scorers in program history, have accounted for each of Miami's nine goals this season. Cunningham has a team-best four goals this season, while Berekemeier has contributed three and Paul has netted two.
THICK IN THE MIDDLE: As expected, a deep Miami midfield is already making contributions to the success of this season's team. Along with the many contributions that cannot be measured with statistics, midfielders Shaedyn Cousino (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) and Danielle Altiero (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) have contributed six of the team's nine assists thus far. In all, seven individuals have seen significant time in the Miami midfield this season.
Senior fixtures Quinn Brady (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock) and Julie Grosso (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) are back to lead the established midfield, along with juniors Cousino, a two-time all-MAC honoree, and Katie Milligan (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville), a 2000 MAC all-Tournament selection. The midfield has been lent additional depth by talented freshmen Laura Freel (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) and Megan Shapiro (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and Ashley Swinehart (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington).
MOVING ON: Though the losses of four-year starters Maggie Lyon, a four-time all-Ohio selection, and Tonja Weimer, a two-time all-MAC selection, to graduation have certainly left their mark, Miami's defense has adjusted well in its first five contests. After giving up two goals each in losses to SMU and Georgetown, the defense has put on the clamps, allowing just one goal in 270 minutes of action while blanking both Wright State and Cincinnati.
Junior Katie Mach (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) and sophomore Tricia Gill (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) have led the RedHawk defender corps, making four starts apiece. Senior Courtney Carey (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) and juniors Audry Wieman (Fisherville, Ky./Sacred Heart) and Holly Wildenhaus (Centerville, Ohio/Massachussetts) each have three starts.
A RED BRICK WALL: Since giving up two goals in a 2-1 loss to Georgetown in her first start as a RedHawk, junior transfer Katie Karlander (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse) has taken on the appearance of a red brick wall, blanking the opposition for more than 310 consecutive minutes. After shutting out the Hoyas for the entire second half of her season-opening loss, Karlander went on to blank Wright State, 3-0, played 75 scoreless minutes in a 3-1 Louisville win and shut down Cincinnati, 1-0. Her current goals against average stands at a gaudy 0.52.
As the starting goalkeeper for Syracuse over the past two seasons, Karlander amassed 25 wins while establishing Syracuse career records for saves (209) and shutouts (15). Her GAA with the Orangewomen was a solid 1.18.
WHAT A RUN: After struggling through its first two seasons as a varsity program, the last two seasons have been a dream for the Red and White. During the 1999 and 2000 seasons, Miami forged an impressive 30-11-1 record, made two trips to the MAC Championship Game, won a MAC Tournament championship and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. During that same stretch, Miami went from last in the MAC in goals per game to leading the league the past two seasons.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Though, as head coach Bobby Kramig says, the proof is in the pudding, Miami earned more than its share of preseason recognition. Miami was picked to finish first in Ohio, first in the Mid-American Conference and 10th in the Great Lakes Region. Previously, the RedHawks had never been a preseason favorite in Ohio or the MAC and had never been ranked among the Great Lakes Region's Top 10. In the MAC poll, Miami received an impressive nine first-place votes and finished 18 votes ahead of second-place Central Michigan, amassing 160 of a possible 169 points.
BUILDING FOR THE PRESENT: According to Soccerbuzz.com, Miami's most recent recruiting class was another great step toward building the program for the present and future. Soccerbuzz.com ranked the 2001 RedHawk recruiting class, which included a major college transfer and two high school standouts, 39th nationally and fourth in the Great Lakes Region. Headlining the class were junior transfer Katie Karlander (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse), a 1998 NSCAA regional all-America selection and two-year starter at Syracuse, and freshman Ashley Swinehart (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington), a two-time NSCAA all-America selection. Also included in the three-member class rated by Soccerbuzz.com was freshman midfielder Jessica Godshall (Villa Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy.), a first-team all-Kentucky selection. Miami was the only MAC school ranked in the Top 50.
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