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Oct. 16, 2001
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REDHAWK RUN FOR THE MAC CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO OXFORD: Following a hard-fought split last weekend that included a 2-0 loss at Ohio and a 3-0 win at Marshall, Miami returns home this weekend to clash with Northern Illinois Friday and Western Michigan Sunday. With the MAC Title race heating up, every match takes on increasing importance for the RedHawks (8-5-0, 5-2-0 MAC).
Despite a 2-9-1 overall and 2-6-0 MAC record, a dangerous Northern Illinois team enters this weekend with a full head of steam. Fresh off a 4-1 upset of Western Michigan on the Broncos' home turf, the Huskies are aiming to make a late-season run at a MAC Tournament berth. Leading Franks Horvat's Huskies are a trio of forwards, including senior Becca Bleyer (3-0-6), sophomore Denise Papke (3-0-6) and sophomore Katie Klass (2-2-6). NIU has been rotating two goalkeepers this season, with sophomore Akiko Iwabuchi posting a 2.24 GAA in 723 minutes and senior Katy Boll recording a 2.30 GAA in 393 minutes.
Western Michigan (7-6-0, 5-3-0 MAC) enters this weekend's match in the midst of a roller coaster ride. After rolling to a 4-0 MAC start, the Broncos stumbled into the most difficult part of their schedule, falling to Buffalo (3-1) and Eastern Michigan (3-1) before handing Central Michigan just its second league loss, 1-0. Last Friday, WMU allowed a season-high four goals in a loss to Northern Illinois. The Broncos are led by junior forward Kersten Conklin (5-4-14) and sophomore forward Megan Urbats (4-4-12). Senior goalkeeper Megan Ramey has started all 13 games for WMU, posting a 1.55 GAA and 3.5 shutouts.
MIAMI-NORTHERN ILLINOIS SERIES HISTORY: Since falling behind 0-2-0, Miami has made a strong comeback in its series with Northern Illinois by notching consecutive wins. The RedHawks have outscored the Huskies 5-0 in the programs' last two meetings, including a 4-0 Miami win at DeKalb last season and a 1-0 win in Oxford in 1999. In the first clash between the MAC rivals, NIU issued Miami a 6-0 defeat, the worst defeat in RedHawk history. Both of the teams' Oxford meetings have been decided by one goal in favor of Miami.
MIAMI-WESTERN MICHIGAN SERIES HISTORY: Prior to a 2-0 loss at Western Michigan last season, the RedHawks were a flawless 4-0 in their series with WMU, including a wild 1999 MAC Quarterfinal match played in high winds and sleet which resulted in a 1-0 overtime victory for the Red and White. Miami is a flawless 3-0 versus the Broncos in Oxford, outscoring WMU 6-1 over the course of those three matches.
HOME SWEET HOME: Though Miami is 1-2-0 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 25-15-2 (.619) record. Over the past three seasons, the Red and White has been even stronger on its home field, amassing 18 wins and just five losses for a remarkable .783 winning percentage. Overall, Miami has won 19 of its last 23 games at Miami Soccer Field.
MIAMI IN THE MAC: Now entering its fifth season in the Mid-American Conference, Miami owns a 24-21-2 (.543) 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. Two wins this weekend would guarantee Miami its third consecutive winning MAC season.
HEAD COACH BOBBY KRAMIG: Fresh off his 50th win as Miami's women's soccer mentor this weekend, Bobby Kramig continues to lead the RedHawks to new heights. Kramig, who has headed the women's program since its inception in 1997, holds a 50-37-4 record.
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 (men's and women's) stands at 201-183-25.
A LOOK BACK: Last weekend, Miami found mixed results on the road, dropping a 2-0 decision at Ohio before rallying for a 3-0 defeat of Marshall. Last Friday versus Ohio, Miami managed just two shots on goal while allowing one Bobcat goal in each half. The loss ended Miami's three-game winning streak versus Ohio and was the RedHawks' third shutout loss of the season.
On Sunday, Miami clashed with the league's top defense and won, recording three goals versus Marshall, which had not allowed more than two goals to any other team this season. Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) led the way, netting a penalty kick in the first half and tallying a second goal midway through the second half. The win was Miami's first on the Herd's home turf. Sophomore goalkeeper Caitlin Wolf (Fairfield, Ohio/Dayton) recorded her first collegiate win and shutout.
ALL OR NOTHING: It is beginning to look like it is all or nothing when it comes to Miami and MAC Play. Through the RedHawks' first seven games, Miami has poured on 20 goals for a stellar average of 4.0 tallies per match. The RedHawks have tied or broken their program record for most goals versus a MAC opponent three times this season, with their six goals versus Akron on Oct. 7 standing as the current record. In stark contrast, Miami's offense has been silent in its two MAC losses, absorbing shutout losses to Toledo and Ohio. Miami is 7-0 when scoring at least two goals.
STRIKING FIRST: In the case of RedHawk soccer this season, every match has followed sudden victory format. Miami is a perfect 8-0 when scoring the first goal and a most imperfect 0-5-0 when the opponent strikes first. Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) and Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) have led Miami's first-strike efforts this season, with three first goals apiece.
CUNNINGHAM NAMED MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: After netting two goals versus the league's top-ranked defense, Miami's Andrea Cunningham was honored on Oct. 15 as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week. Cunningham, who netted a first half penalty kick and second-half score, helped Miami roll up three goals versus a Marshall defense that had not surrendered more than two goals all season. Cunningham, who earned the honor for the second time in her career, is the only Miami player ever to earn the honor.
CHASING HISTORY: 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 second all-time with 97 career points and Berkemeier rates fifth with 87 points. The duo is chasing former Buffalo standout Paula Listrani, who tallied 104 points during her three seasons of MAC soccer. Cunningham, Berkemeier and Eastern Michigan's Amanda Kulikowski are attempting to become the second, third and fourth players in MAC history to reach the century mark.
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 11 goals, which ranks first in the MAC, over the past 11 games, including a Miami record five game-winning goals and four multiple-goal efforts. The junior has notched Miami's last four game-winning goals and netted 15 points (seven goals, one assist) during that stretch. Cunningham traditionally has been stronger versus MAC foes, netting 28 of her 41 (.683) career goals in MAC outings. She currently leads the MAC in both points (1.85) and goals (0.85) per game.
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.
With a goal versus Marshall last Sunday, Berkemeier has contributed at least a point in each of the last 13 contests in which the RedHawks have scored.
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: If head coach Bobby Kramig had to select a Defensive MVP for his team, he might very well select Dave Donnelly, the team's athletic trainer. Of eight defenders currently on the Miami roster, Donnelly has or is helping all eight through some type of injury. Currently listed on Miami's injury report for this weekend are senior Courtney Carey (doubtful-knee), junior Katie Mach (probable-ankle), sophomore Tricia Gill (probable-concussion) and sophomore Michaela Fink (out-knee), who is just returning to the practice field after off-season surgery to repair a torn ACL. Also battling various ailments are senior Sarah Paul (achilles tendon), junior Holly Wildenhaus (knee), junior Audry Wieman (knee) and freshman Kristy Tamaska (foot).
HANGING TOUGH: Despite the rash of injuries that have plagued Miami's defender corps this season, the RedHawk defense has hung tough while maintaining an impressive tradition that was previously headlined by graduating seniors Maggie Lyon, a four-time all-Ohio selection, and Tonja Weimer, a two-time all-MAC honoree. Miami ranks fifth in the MAC this season, surrendering just 1.23 goals per game. In MAC action, Miami is allowing 1.14 goals per game, which ranks fourth in the MAC.
Miami's defense gained a reputation for itself last season, when it blanked all three opponents on its way to the MAC Tournament Championship. Through six MAC Tournament games over the past two years, Miami has allowed only one goal.
THE MAC RACE HEATS UP: With five league contests remaining, Miami still finds itself in the thick of the MAC race. Though the RedHawks trail Buffalo by six points and Central Michigan by three points in the latest standings, Miami holds games in hand (meaning games yet to be played) and head-to-head wins over both the Bulls and the Chippewas. Miami's stiffest challenge is currently being provided by Ohio, which is currently tied for the third with the RedHawks. Ohio, which has played the same number of games as Miami, defeated the RedHawks last weekend to claim the head-to-head tie-breaker.
With six teams holding steady with at least five wins, though, the battle is really just beginning in the "wacky" MAC. While Miami aims to improve its position this weekend with wins versus Northern Illinois and Western Michigan (currently tied for third with Miami), a pair of crucial league matchups take place in Michigan. League-leader Buffalo puts its 7-3-0 league mark on the line at second-place Central Michigan on Friday and third-place Eastern Michigan on Sunday.
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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