Oct. 3, 2001
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REDHAWKS AIM TO SUSTAIN MOMENTUM VERSUS TOLEDO AND AKRON: With wins in six of their last seven contests and a perfect 3-0 Mid-American Conference record for the first time in program history, the Miami RedHawks return to Oxford this week to battle MAC challengers Toledo and Akron.
This Thursday, Miami faces Toledo in a match that was rescheduled from its original Sept. 14 date. The Rockets are off to a solid start in the MAC and stand with a 3-2-1 league record after defeating Northern Illinois, 2-1, and falling to Western Michigan, 1-0, last week. Mentored by first-year head coach Brad Evans, the Rockets hold key league victories this season over 1999 MAC regular-season champion Eastern Michigan (2-1) and 2000 MAC regular-season champion Buffalo (2-1). Also to the Rockets' credit is a 2-2 tie with 2000 MAC Tournament runner-up Bowling Green.
The Rockets are led in scoring by forwards Melissa Lesage and Corrie Hasenjager, who have five and four goals, respectively. Junior Elise Donovan has seen all 750 minutes in goal for the Rockets, boasting a 1.32 goals against average and 69 saves.
Miami meets first-year program Akron for the first time Sunday afternoon. The Zips, who are winless in the Mid-American Conference, stand at 2-7-0 overall. Despite their record, the Zips have gained momentum as of late and are coming off a narrow one-goal loss to Central Michigan. Leading the Zips is freshman forward Jeannie Stuckey, who will square off with Miami's Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) in a battle of the league's goal-scoring leaders. Both Stuckey and Cunningham have notched seven goals this season. Coached by Catherine Byrne, the Zips start freshman Meghan McCarthy in goal.
MIAMI-TOLEDO SERIES HISTORY: Miami and Toledo are meeting for the fifth time since the programs first collided during the 1997 season. Thus far, the Rockets have dominated the series, claiming three of the four meetings, including a 1-0 victory last year in Toledo. Miami's only victory in the series history came in 1999 when the RedHawks rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a 3-2 overtime win in Oxford. In the three losses to the Rockets, Miami has been shut out each time.
HOME SWEET HOME: Though Miami is 0-1 on its home turf this season, Miami Soccer Field has posed more than its share of problems for opposing teams in recent years. Miami historically has been very strong on its home turf, posting a stellar 24-14-2 (.625) record. Over the past three seasons, the Red and White has been even stronger on its home field, amassing 17 wins and just four losses for a remarkable .810 winning percentage. Overall, Miami has won 18 of its last 22 games at Miami Soccer Field.
MIAMI IN THE MAC: Now entering its fifth season in the Mid-American Conference, Miami owns a 22-18-2 (.548) 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. The RedHawks have won nine of their last 11 MAC contests when playing on their home turf.
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 46-35-4 mark (.565), including an astonishing mark of 31-11-1 (.733) and consecutive MAC Championship appearances during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
A LOOK BACK: In an exciting weekend of MAC Soccer, Miami's women's soccer team made a long roadtrip worthwhile, scorching MAC rivals Buffalo and Kent State for a combined nine goals and doubling its season goal production in the process.
Versus Buffalo last Friday, Miami returned to the site of its 2000 MAC Tournament Championship and continued its run of strong play there. Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) contributed the ninth multiple-goal game of her career, including the game-winning goal, while Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) contributed a record-tying three assists.
Miami's offense stayed hot in its visit to Kent, breaking a 2-2 halftime tie with three second-half goals. Miami's five goals, two of which came from Berkemeier, were a record versus a MAC foe. Midfielder Danielle Altiero (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) contributed a goal and an assist in the win.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: With its sweep of MAC foes Buffalo and Kent State last weekend, Miami moved to 3-0 in the Mid-American Conference for the first time in program history. The RedHawks, who had never even made it to 1-0 in the MAC until last season, started each of their first two seasons at 0-3 before improving to 1-2 in 1999 and 2-1 in 2000. Miami's record for consecutive MAC wins was established during the 1999 campaign, when the RedHawks won seven consecutive after dropping their first two.
REDHAWKS HOLDING STEADY IN GREAT LAKES TOP 10: Following last weekend's road sweep of Buffalo and Kent State, Miami maintained a firm grip on its Top 10 Great Lakes Region rankings. In this week's editions of the NSCAA and Soccerbuzz.com Great Lakes Region polls, Miami was ranked No.10. The RedHawks, who are the only MAC team included in the Top 10, have never cracked the Great Lakes Region Top 10 in midseason. Notre Dame currently holds the top position in both polls.
ROAD WARRIORS: Traditionally a much stronger team at home, Miami has risen to the occasion during the 2001 campaign, posting a perfect 5-0 record when playing at an opponent's venue-as opposed to an 0-2 record at neutral sites and 0-1 mark at home. Miami, which opened the season by playing eight of nine games away from home, has earned road victories at area rivals Wright State, Louisville and Cincinnati and MAC foes Central Michigan, Buffalo and Kent State. The Red and White had never won at Cincinnati or Central Michigan prior to this season.
Miami's previous record for regular-season wins on the road is seven, established during the 1999 season, when the RedHawks enjoyed the only winning road record (7-3) in program history.
SWEET SEPTEMBER: With last weekend's wins, Miami finished the month of September at 5-2, the program's fourth winning September record in five years. The RedHawks stand at 23-15-1 (.603) all-time in the month of September, including an even more impressive 16-7-0 (.696) mark over the past three years. Miami's six September wins this season tied the program record for wins in the month, which was set in 1999. Miami's record for most wins in any month also came in 1999, when the Red and White reeled off an 8-1 mark during the month of October.
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 tallied a goal or assist in nine consecutive contests until the entire team was blanked last Sunday versus Utah. She found the back of the net in seven of those nine games, netting three game-winning goals while assisting on another. Since her streak ended versus Utah, Berkemeier has come roaring back, contributing two goals and three assists during last weekend's defeats of Buffalo and Kent State.
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. Since she was kept off the scoreboard in season-opening losses to SMU and Georgetown, Cunningham has come to life, tallying a MAC-leading seven goals over the past eight games, including three game-winning goals and two multiple-goal efforts. Last weekend, the junior notched two game-winning goals on the way to a seven-point weekend. Cunningham traditionally has been stronger versus MAC foes, netting 24 of her 37 (.649) career goals in MAC outings.
LENDING A HELPING FOOT: Known as a playmaking midfielder, Miami sophomore Danielle Altiero (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) is rapidly emerging as one of the RedHawks' primary scoring threats. Versus Wright State on Sept. 7, Altiero broke onto the scene with a Miami single-game record three assists. Last weekend, the redshirt sophomore showed another aspect of her game, knocking in one goal each versus Buffalo and Kent State while also tallying her fifth assist of the season. Altiero currently ranks second in the MAC in assists.
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 seven assists and three goals 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), who tallied her first goal at Kent State last weekend, 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 three goals, excluding penalty kicks, over the past five matches.
Junior Katie Mach (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) and sophomore Tricia Gill (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) have led the RedHawk defender corps, making eight starts apiece. Senior Courtney Carey (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) and junior Audry Wieman (Fisherville, Ky./Sacred Heart) have also seen significant time.
A RED BRICK WALL: Prior to last weekend's 5-3 shootout win over Kent State, Miami goalkeeper Katie Karlander (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse) had taken on the appearance of a red brick wall. After giving up two first-half goals in her season-opening loss to Georgetown, Karlander allowed just three goals over her next 570 minutes of action, including two shutouts, and posted a goals against average of 0.47. Overall, Karlander, who has won six of her last seven outings and stands at 6-1, now owns a GAA of 1.28 A junior transfer from Syracuse University, Karlander established Orangewomen records for shutouts, saves and wins during her two years at Syracuse.
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 and first in the Mid-American Conference. Previously, the RedHawks had never been a preseason favorite in Ohio or the MAC. 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 recruiting class 39th nationally and fourth in the Great Lakes Region. Miami was the only MAC school ranked in the Top 50.
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