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Oct. 30, 2001
REDHAWKS TANGLE WITH NEMESIS EAGLES IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALE: With a top-three league finish and home-field advantage for the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament already guaranteed, Miami University's women's soccer team goes in search of a little more this Thursday, when it travels to Eastern Michigan University for a marquee league match that includes two of the league's hottest teams.
On the line for the RedHawks is a guaranteed second-place finish, which would be the highest regular-season finish in Miami history, and an outside shot at the MAC regular-season championship. Miami, which currently stands in sole possession of second-place in the league point standings, could earn its first MAC regular-season title with a win and an Akron upset of Ohio on Friday. A defeat of Eastern Michigan, which currently sits in third place, would at least guarantee the RedHawks a runner-up finish in the MAC regular-season race.
Eastern Michigan, which has won seven consecutive MAC contests since starting the season 1-3-0 in league play, has established itself as the MAC's premier program over the past five seasons, finishing among the top three in the league every season since the MAC started women's soccer in 1997. Coached by Scott Hall, this season's Eagles are led by sophomore forward Jessica Hupe, who has netted 10 goals and dished out three assists on the year. Freshman goalkeeper Nicki Allen has anchored a traditionally strong EMU defense and maintains a stellar 0.91 goals against average and an 11-4-0 record.
MIAMI-EASTERN MICHIGAN SERIES HISTORY: Miami is aiming to get a monkey off its back this Thursday when it clashes with Eastern Michigan for the sixth time in program history. In what has become one of the MAC's most intense rivalries, Miami is still searching for its first win and stands at 0-4-1 in the series.
Over the past two meetings, the rivalry has picked up steam. In the 1999 MAC Championship match, the rivals battled for 150 minutes with neither team able to find the back of the net. Despite the scoreless tie, EMU earned the MAC's first NCAA Tournament berth via a 5-3 win in penalty kicks. Last season, the teams staged another thriller, as the Eagles' Amanda Kulikowski netted the game-winning goal at 89:37, propelling Eastern Michigan to the 2-1 win.
A MIAMI WIN...
* Clinches at least a runner-up finish in the MAC regular-season standings for the RedHawks and keeps hope of a MAC Championship alive, pending Friday's Ohio at Akron outcome.
* Improves Miami's final MAC record to 9-2-1, the highest league win total in program history.
* Would be the RedHawks' first defeat of Eastern Michigan.
* Extends Miami's unbeaten streak to six matches.
A MIAMI LOSS...
* Drops the Red and White to third place in the final MAC standings, while allowing Eastern Michigan to capture second place.
* Extends Miami's winless streak versus Eastern Michigan to six.
* Ends the RedHawks' five-match unbeaten streak.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Following a four-game homestand, Miami returns to the road this week in hopes of continuing what has been a stellar season away from home. Miami has posted an impressive 7-1-0 record when playing at an opponent's venue this season-compared to a 4-2-1 mark at home and 0-2-0 record at neutral sites. The Red and White had won its first six road matches, including a 1-0 upset win at Cincinnati on Sept. 17, before Ohio ended the string with a 2-0 shutout on Oct. 12. Miami has outscored the opposition 21-8 on foreign turf this season.
MIAMI IN THE MAC: Now concluding its fifth season in the Mid-American Conference, Miami owns a 27-21-3 (.559) 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. Miami guaranteed its third consecutive winning MAC record with an Oct. 21 defeat of Western Michigan. The RedHawks, who have already matched their record for league wins in a season (8), could break the record with a win at Eastern Michigan.
HEAD COACH BOBBY KRAMIG: Fresh off his 50th win as Miami's women's soccer on Oct. 7, 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 53-37-5 (.584) 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 guided 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 204-183-26 (.525).
A LOOK BACK: Miami concluded its regular-season home schedule last weekend with mixed results, forging a 1-1 tie with Ball State last Friday and blanking Bowling Green, 3-0, last Sunday.
In an epic struggle with Ball State, Miami rallied from a deficit for the first time this season but was unable to strike a game-winning goal in the 120-minute battle. Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) notched Miami's lone goal on the day, tallying a first-half, game-tying penalty kick. Danielle Altiero (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) led all players with eight shots, including five on goal. It was Miami's first tie since the 1999 MAC Championship match.
Miami kept its MAC Championship hopes alive last Sunday with a shutout of Bowling Green. Cunningham, Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) and Laura Freel (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) all recorded goals, while Katie Karlander (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse) notched her fifth complete-game shutout of the season. Miami improved its all-time record versus BGSU to 6-0-0.
POURING IT ON: It is all or nothing when it comes to Miami and MAC play. Through the RedHawks' first 11 matches, Miami has poured on 30 goals for a league-leading average of 2.7 tallies per match in eight wins and a tie this season. In stark contrast, Miami's offense has been silent in its two MAC defeats, absorbing shutout losses to Toledo (1-0) and Ohio (2-0). Miami, which is 10-0-0 overall when scoring at least two goals, has outscored its MAC foes 30-9 and leads the league in margin of victory. Defensively, the RedHawks have blanked five MAC opponents.
STRIKING FIRST: In the case of RedHawk soccer this season, every match has followed sudden victory format. Miami is a perfect 11-0-0 when scoring the first goal and a most imperfect 0-5-1 when the opponent strikes first. Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) lead Miami's first-strike efforts this season, with five first goals.
CHASING HISTORY: With one regular-season game remaining in their junior seasons, Miami forwards Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) and Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) continue to entrench their reputation as the most dangerous scoring duo in MAC history.
Cunningham, who leads the MAC with 13 goals and 29 overall points, including MAC only totals of nine goals and 20 points, became the first Miami and second MAC soccer player to clear the 100-point barrier last week and currently stands second in MAC history with 102 (43-16-102) career points. Cunningham needs only one goal to tie former Buffalo standout Paula Listrani (104) as the MAC's all-time leading scorer.
Not far behind is Berkemeier, whose 92 (35-22-92) career points rank fourth in league history. Miami's career leader for assists, Berkemeier is one assist away from breaking the RedHawk single-season assist record.
BROOKE'S BIG DAY: Senior forward Brooke Paul (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart) gave Miami a big lift off the bench in an Oct. 21 defeat of Western Michigan, tallying a hat trick in a single half. Paul, who tallied Miami's first hat trick in a 1998 defeat of Morehead State, became the first RedHawk to tally multiple career hat tricks with her effort. Paul's three goals in a half also tied a Miami record set by teammate Katie Milligan (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville) in a 1999 defeat of Loyola (Ill.) for most goals in a half. Paul, who completed the trifecta in just 11:28, also broke Milligan's record for fastest hat trick. Paul ranks third all-time at Miami with 17 career goals and 39 career points. One more point would make Paul just the 17th player in MAC history to clear the 40-point barrier.
CUNNINGHAM 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 13 goals over the past 17 games, including a Miami record six game-winning goals and four multiple-goal efforts. Cunningham traditionally has been stronger versus MAC foes, netting 30 of her 43 (.698) career goals in MAC outings. She currently is tied for the MAC lead in both points (29) and goals (13). In the MAC-only rankings, Cunningham is tied for the league lead in points (20) and leads the league in goals (9).
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 on Sept. 23. She found the back of the net in seven of those nine games, netting three game-winning goals while assisting on another. Overall, Berkemeier has contributed at least a point in 16 of the last 17 matches in which Miami has lit the scoreboard. She currently ranks third in the MAC in points (26) and second in assists (9).
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. More important than her scoring, Cousino has been a force in the Miami midfield, consistently winning balls and helping set up the offense. 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.
"D" WINS: 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. Miami ranks fourth in the MAC this season, surrendering just 0.97 goals per game. In MAC action, Miami is allowing an even more impressive 0.82 goals per game, which ranks second in the league. Both totals stand as Miami team records. Miami's defense has blanked five MAC foes this season, while giving up just 0.47 goals per game during the month of October.
A RED BRICK WALL: Miami's defense has been able to relax somewhat this season, because it knows junior transfer goalkeeper Katie Karlander (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse) has its back. Karlander, who transferred from Syracuse this season after setting Orangewomen records for career wins and shutouts in her first two seasons, has been almost unbeatable as Miami's netminder. Boasting an overall goals against average of 0.87, Karlander has allowed just six MAC goals in eight league outings this season, including a season-high three in a 5-3 defeat of Kent State. Over the past 528 minutes, Karlander has allowed just two goals, while earning three shutouts. She currently shares the Miami record for single-season shutouts with 5.5 and ranks second in single-season goals against average.
MAC TOURNAMENT TAKES SHAPE: Following is a team-by-team breakdown of how the MAC Tournament bracket is shaping up. Northern Illinois, Bowling Green and Akron have been eliminated from contention.
*Ohio: The Bobcats need either a Miami loss Thursday or a win at Akron on Friday to clinch the tournament's No. 1 seed. If Miami wins and the Bobcats lose, Ohio will merit the No. 2 seed.
*Miami: The RedHawks can only claim the No. 1 seed with a defeat of Eastern Michigan Thursday and an Ohio loss Friday. If both Miami and Ohio win, the RedHawks claim the No. 2 seed. If Miami loses, it will be the No. 3 seed.
*Eastern Michigan: The Eagles can finish as high as the No. 2 seed by defeating Miami Thursday or would keep the No. 3 seed with a loss.
*Central Michigan: The Chippewas are guaranteed the No. 4 seed.
*Marshall: The Thundering Herd is guaranteed the No. 5 seed.
*Buffalo: The Bulls are guaranteed the No. 6 seed.
*Western Michigan: The Broncos are guaranteed the No. 7 seed.
*Toledo: The Rockets claim the No. 8 seed if Ball State loses to Bowling Green. If Ball State wins, Toledo is eliminated from contention.
*Ball State: The Cardinals can claim the No. 8 seed by defeating Bowling Green. A loss eliminates them from contention.
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