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Oct. 15, 2009
OXFORD, Ohio - After seeing its season-long three-game winning streak snapped Sunday at Mid-American Conference-leading Central Michigan, the Miami women's soccer team is eager to return to the pitch, which it will do Friday and Sunday when the RedHawks play at Akron and Ohio. Miami faces the Zips Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Lee Jackson Field before playing its final road game of the regular season at rival Ohio Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Chessa Field.
The 'Hawks (7-5-1, 3-2-1 MAC) enter the weekend in a three-way tie for fourth place in the MAC, but are just one point behind Eastern Michigan and Ohio for second place. Miami handed the Eagles their first and only loss in league play last Friday (Oct. 9) with senior Jodi Zwingelberg (Elgin, Ill.) scoring the game-winning goal to run Miami's win streak to three, its longest since 2005, before the Chippewas narrowly edged the RedHawks, 1-0, Sunday to snap the streak. Miami has already eclipsed its win total from the last two seasons (six) with the win in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Miami has doubled its opponents in 2009, outscoring them 20-10 on the season, as the Red and White has not allowed more than one goal in MAC play and has allowed more than one just once all year (two Sept. 18 vs. Dayton). The team's 1.54 goals per game is second in the league. Senior keeper Krista Pace (Toronto, Ont.) has four shutouts on the year, tied for third in the MAC, while her 0.75 goals-against average is also third. Pace, who already broke the school's career shutouts record earlier this year, is tied with Leigh Terry (2002-05) as the winningest keeper in Miami history with 25 wins. Senior co-captain Allison Berkey (Hopkinton, Mass.) and junior Sara Lund (Malmo, Sweden) have paced the RedHawks' attack with four goals each, while senior Kersta Carlson's (Plymouth, Minn.) team-leading six assists are tops in the MAC.
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Akron (4-6-2, 2-3-1 MAC) is three points back of Miami in a tie for seventh place in the MAC and is coming off a weekend split on the road, dropping a one-goal game at Toledo before rebounding with a 2-1 win at Bowling Green Sunday. The Zips have played just three home games this year, going 1-1-1 in those contests, including an overtime loss to Central Michigan. Sophomore Rachel Phillip leads Akron with three goals and eight points, as the Zips are averaging just 0.83 goals a match (10 goals total). UA has a team goals-against average of 1.58, 10th in the MAC, with sophomore keeper Jeny Wolbert starting 10 games, including all six MAC games. In league play only, she has a 0.95 GAA compared to a 1.29 GAA for the season.
Miami leads the all-time series with the Zips, 4-2-2, winning 2-1 last year in Oxford. The RedHawks haven't won in Akron since 2002, however, going 1-1-2 all-time in Akron.
The second-place Bobcats (6-5-2, 3-1-2 MAC), who face Ball State Friday, enter the weekend on a roll. Ohio is unbeaten in its last five matches, going 3-0-2 during that stretch, after dropping its MAC opener to Central Michigan, 4-0. The 'Cats are scoring 1.15 goals per game while posting a 1.49 goals-against average, both of which are eighth in the MAC. Ohio has a 0.93 GAA in league play only, however. Senior Amy Lower and freshman Erin Schwenke each have three goals to lead the Bobcats, while sophomore Kelsey Pichel's five assists are tied for second in the MAC. Senior keeper Jess MacLean has made nine starts in net, playing in 11 contests total, while collecting three shutouts (all in MAC play) and a 1.45 GAA. Ohio is 3-2-1 at home this season with Sunday serving as its Senior Day.
The Bobcats hold a slim, 8-7 edge in the all-time series with the 'Hawks, having won the last two meetings a combined 7-2. Miami last won in Athens in 2005.
Live stats will be available for both matches this weekend at MURedHawks.com.
Following their final road games of the regular season, the RedHawks return home to play their final three MAC games of the regular season, starting with Western Michigan Oct. 23.
--MURedHawks.com--
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