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Oct. 9, 2001
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REDHAWKS TRAVEL TO OHIO AND MARSHALL DURING KEY MAC WEEKEND: Off to its best Mid-American Conference start in program history, Miami attempts to improve upon its current third-place league standing this weekend when it clashes with rivals Ohio University on Friday and Marshall University on Sunday.
Ohio, which is one of four teams tied with Miami for third place in the MAC standings, is coming off an impressive weekend in which it dismantled Kent State, 4-0, and outlasted Ball State, 2-1, in double overtime. The Bobcats, who are attempting to earn their third consecutive victory and match a season-long winning streak, also have earned MAC wins at Eastern Michigan and versus Marshall. Coached by second-year mentor Stacy Strauss, Ohio has earned all five of its victories this season by one goal, including three games that were won or tied in the last five minutes of regulation. Leading the Bobcats is sophomore forward Christel Schiering, who has notched six goals and one assist.
Marshall, which was narrowly defeated, 2-1, at Central Michigan last Sunday, is unbeaten in three of its last four contests heading into this weekend. Bolstered by league wins over Kent State, 1-0, and Akron, 3-0, and a tie with Ball State, 0-0 2OT, the Thundering Herd is making a strong run at its first MAC Tournament berth. Directed by fourth-year head coach Teresa Patterson, the Herd has faired well against a challenging schedule that included one-goal losses to traditional powerhouses Kentucky and Evansville, as well as a 1-0 upset of Xavier. Marshall relies heavily on a defense that has blanked a league-best six teams this season and a balanced offensive attack.
MIAMI-OHIO SERIES HISTORY: After dropping its first three meetings with Ohio during the 1997 and 1998 seasons, Miami has responded with wins in each of the last three meetings to even the series at 3-3-0. Last season, the RedHawks managed a 3-2 double-overtime defeat of the Bobcats during the regular season before ousting Ohio from the MAC Quarterfinals by a 1-0 margin. Of six previous meetings between the rivals, the score has been decided by one goal five times, with three matches seeing overtime. Miami is 1-2-0 versus the Bobcats in Athens, Ohio.
MIAMI-MARSHALL SERIES HISTORY: When Miami heads to Marshall this Sunday, it will be aiming for its second consecutive victory versus a program that has proven to be a real nemesis. The RedHawks, who were 0-2-0 versus the Thundering Herd prior to last season's 3-1 win, are winless in two previous trips to Huntington, W.Va. In one of the programs' more memorable meetings in 1999, Marshall upset Miami 4-3 to end a seven-game winning streak and end the RedHawks' hopes of a regular-season MAC Championship.
ROAD WARRIORS: Traditionally a much stronger team at home, Miami has risen to the occasion during the 2001 campaign, posting a perfect 6-0-0 record when playing at an opponent's venue-as opposed to an 0-2 record at neutral sites and 1-2 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.
MIAMI IN THE MAC: Now entering its fifth season in the Mid-American Conference, Miami owns a 23-20-2 (.533) 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, who have typically struggled to get out of the gates versus the MAC, are off to a program-record 4-1-0 start this season.
HEAD COACH BOBBY KRAMIG: Fresh off his 200th win as a collegiate men's and women's head soccer coach, Miami's Bobby Kramig attempts to pick up his 50th win as Miami's women's soccer mentor this weekend. Kramig, who has headed the women's program since its inception in 1997, enters the weekend at 49-36-4.
Kramig has successfully guided Miami's women's soccer program through its transition from club to varsity status over the past five seasons. 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, who began his career as head women's soccer coach at Morehead State in 1982, came to Miami prior to the 1983 season, when he took over the Miami men's soccer program, which he guided for the next 16 seasons. His overall college coaching record stands at 200-182-25.
A LOOK BACK: Last week, the RedHawks moved to 4-1 in Mid-American Conference play, dropping a 1-0 double-overtime decision to the University of Toledo before rebounding for a 6-0 thumping of the University of Akron. Last Thursday, Miami dominated a contest versus Toledo, outshooting the Rockets 23-7, but could not finish any of its goal-scoring opportunities and tumbled in the 107th minute. The loss was the second consecutive shutout loss at home for the RedHawks.
Miami responded in grand fashion last Sunday, unleashing six goals versus Akron-a program record for goals versus a MAC opponent. Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) and Megan Shapiro (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) each tallied two goals in the RedHawks' first home victory. The win was head coach Bobby Kramig's 200th as a collegiate women's and men's head soccer coach.
LIGHTING IT UP: With the exclusion of Miami's 1-0 shutout loss to Toledo last Thursday, the RedHawks have had no problem lighting up the scoreboard in MAC play. In five league games this season, including the Toledo loss, the RedHawks have outscored the opposition 17-6 for an average of 3.4 goals per game. Miami opened its impressive run two weekends ago by peppering Buffalo for four goals and Kent State for five. Last Sunday, the RedHawks racked up a season-best six versus Akron.
To give a better idea of what the RedHawks have accomplished, during Miami's first two season in the MAC, the program scored two less goals (15) than it has scored in just under half of this season.
MAC ATTACK: A little more than half way through their junior seasons, Miami's dynamic duo of Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) and Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) are firmly entrenching themselves as the most dangerous duo in Mid-American Conference history. According to a listing of the MAC's all-time career scoring leaders, compiled by Eastern Michigan's Bernadette Vielhaber, Cunningham ranks third all-time with 93 career points and Berkemeier rates fifth with 85 points. The duo is chasing former Buffalo standout Paula Listrani, who tallied 104 points during her three seasons of MAC soccer. Also pursuing the record is Eastern Michigan senior Amanda Kulikowski, who has 95 points entering this weekend.
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 versus Utah. She found the back of the net in seven of those nine games, netting three game-winning goals while assisting on another.
Though Berkemeier, along with her teammates, were shut out versus Toledo last Thursday, she has still contributed in each of the last 12 contests in which the RedHawks have found the back of the net.
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 nine goals, which ranks second in the MAC, over the past nine games, including four game-winning goals and three multiple-goal efforts. The junior has notched Miami's last three game-winning goals and netted 11 points (five goals, one assist) during that stretch. Cunningham traditionally has been stronger versus MAC foes, netting 26 of her 39 (.667) career goals in MAC outings. She currently ranks second in the MAC in both goals (9) and points (20)
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. Two weekends ago, 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 ranks second in the MAC with six assists.
HEART OF THE MIDFIELD: Always a physical presence in the center of Miami's midfield, two-time all-MAC honoree Shaedyn Cousino (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) is reestablishing herself as a scoring threat this season. Cousino, who tallied three goals and three assists her freshman season, notched just one goal and two assists as a sophomore. This season, Cousino has been getting forward with Miami's offense and already matched her career high with three assists. Versus Buffalo on Sept. 28, Cousino tallied her first goal of the season, ending a 21-game drought. The daughter of former Miami football All-American Brad Cousino and sister of current RedHawk football player Cortt Cousino, Shaedyn was a first-team all-MAC selection as a freshman and second-team honoree last season.
DINGED UP DEFENSE: As if 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 were not hard enough to cope with, Miami's defender corps has struggled with more than its share of injuries this season. Senior Courtney Carey (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) and junior transfer Holly Wildenhaus (Centerville, Ohio/Massachusetts) have both missed extensive time with knee injuries, while junior Katie Mach (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) is questionable for this weekend with a sprained ankle.
Fortunately, the RedHawks have been able to rely on a number of seasoned defenders, including senior Sarah Paul (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont), junior Audry Wieman (Fisherville, Ky./Sacred Heart) and sophomore Tricia Gill (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) to maintain a strong defensive tradition. Miami's defense has shut out three opponents this season and maintains a solid 1.24 goals against average.
A RED BRICK WALL: A traditionally strong Miami defense became stronger this season with the addition of junior goalkeeping transfer Katie Karlander (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse). In her first 10 appearances as a RedHawk, Karlander has helped Miami to seven wins while allowing just 11 goals-a 1.16 goals against average. At Syracuse, Karlander set career goalkeeping records for wins, shutout and saves.
FRESH FEET: Though Miami's 2001 team is more experienced than ever before, the RedHawks have still been able to make good use of its freshman class. The freshman trio of Ashley Swinehart (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington), Laura Freel (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) and Megan Shapiro (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South) have all seen action in a minimum of nine games this season, with all three recently earning starting assignments in the RedHawk midfield.
Last Sunday, Shapiro became the first freshman since Andrea Cunningham in 1999 to record a multiple-goal game, notching two goals versus Akron. Freel also enjoyed a solid match, assisting on two of Miami's six scores versus the Zips. In all, five freshman saw action in Miami's defeat of Akron last Sunday.
THE MAC RACE HEATS UP: With seven league contests remaining, Miami finds itself standing on very solid ground in the MAC race. Though the RedHawks trail Buffalo by six points and Toledo by one point in the latest standings, Miami holds three games in hand over the Bulls and two over the Rockets, meaning it plays three more games than Buffalo and two more than Toledo.
This weekend, all four of the teams tied for third place in the MAC play against at least one of the other four third-place teams. With a win over Ohio, one of only two other MAC teams with just one league loss, Miami would control its own destiny by holding head-to-head wins over Ohio and Central Michigan and games in hand over Buffalo, Toledo and Western Michigan.
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.
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