Nov. 5, 2001

REDHAWKS BEGIN MAC TOURNAMENT TITLE DEFENSE TUESDAY: Miami's women's soccer team begins defense of its 2000 MAC Tournament title at 2 p.m. this Tuesday, when the Red and White hosts the University at Buffalo in a rematch of last season's MAC Semifinal match. Miami, which finished the regular season at 11-6-1 and 8-3-1 in the MAC, enters the match with the No. 3 seed, while Buffalo, which stands at 9-8-0 and 7-5-0 in the MAC, holds the No. 6 seed.

The RedHawks, who are hosting their third consecutive MAC Quarterfinal, are hosting a tournament savvy Buffalo team that is making its fourth tournament appearance in four years of MAC soccer. Buffalo, which holds a 1-2 mark in opening round MAC Tournament action, won six of its first eight league matches this season prior to slumping down the stretch and dropping three of its last four.

A young team, which features just six juniors and seniors, Jean A. Tassy's Bulls are led by sophomore forward Nicole Olszewski, who has seven goals and six assists for 20 points. Senior midfielder Paula Sinclair also has been a dangerous asset for Buffalo, notching six goals and two assists. In all, 13 different players have scored in Buffalo's balanced attack this season. Junior netminder Emily Cox has seen almost all of Buffalo's action in net this season, forging an 8-8-0 record and 1.80 goals against average in 16 appearances.

In other MAC Tournament action Tuesday, top-seeded Ohio hosts No. 8 Ball State in Athens, Ohio, second-seeded Eastern Michigan hosts No. 7 Western Michigan in Ypsilanti, Mich., and fourth-seeded Central Michigan faces fifth-seeded Marshall in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The highest remaining seed following the quartefinal round will host the semifinal and final rounds.

MIAMI-BUFFALO SERIES HISTORY: Miami and Buffalo are meeting for the sixth time since 1998 and second time in the MAC Tournament with the RedHawks holding a commanding 4-0-1 series lead. In a Sept. 28 meeting, the teams' only other meeting this season, Miami dominated the Bulls on their home turf, earning a soggy 4-1 victory behind two goals from Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) and three assists from Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield). Last season, Miami defeated Buffalo 2-0 in the MAC Semifinals-the teams' only postseason meeting. The RedHawks are 1-0-1 versus Buffalo at home.

HEAD COACH BOBBY KRAMIG: Guiding Miami into its third consecutive MAC Tournament appearance is head coach Bobby Kramig (Florida Southern '82), who continues to lead the program to new heights. Kramig, who has headed the women's program since its inception in 1997, holds a 53-38-5 (.578) 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 204-184-26 (.524).

'HAWKS IN THE TOURNEY: Miami's 2001 women's soccer team attempts to carry on a fine tradition of MAC postseason play beginning with Tuesday's match versus Buffalo. The RedHawks, who are appearing in the tournament for the third time in as many years, have never been defeated in MAC Tournament play, boasting a 5-0-1* record. (*In the 1999 MAC Championship game versus Eastern Michigan, the RedHawks and Eagles battled through 150 scoreless minutes before EMU earned the league's first NCAA Tournament berth via a 5-3 win in penalty kicks. According to NCAA rules, the match was officially counted as a tie.) Last season, Miami defeated Ohio, Buffalo and Bowling Green on the way to their first MAC Tournament title and NCAA berth.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Without question, the key to Miami's success in MAC Tournament play has been its defense. Through six tournament games, Miami has given up only one goal and boasts a remarkable 0.14 goals against average. Miami has blanked the opposition in four consecutive MAC postseason matches dating back to the 1999 championship game and maintains a shutout streak of 509 minutes. Over the past two tournaments, Miami has placed three defenders and a goalkeeper on the MAC all-tournament team.

HOME COOKING: Miami, which is 2-0 at home in MAC postseason action, attempts to continue a five-game home unbeaten streak with Tuesday's MAC Quarterfinal match. Since opening the home season with consecutive losses for the first time in program history, Miami has gone 4-0-1 while outscoring the opposition 16-1. The RedHawks, who have a 4-1-1 home record versus the MAC boast an impressive 0.32 goals against average and four shutouts against league foes at Miami Soccer Field. Historically, Miami has been a dangerous team on its home turf, posting a 28-15-3 (.641) all-time record. The RedHawks are unbeaten in 23 of their last 27 home matches for an impressive winning percentage of .851.

A LOOK BACK: Miami's regular-season came to an end under unsavory conditions last Thursday, as the RedHawks fell 3-1 at Eastern Michigan. The loss, which kept Miami winless versus Eastern Michigan in six meetings, dropped the RedHawks to third-place in the final MAC standings. In a contest that was played under protest because of extremely poor field conditions, Miami fell behind 3-0 before Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) finally put the Red and White on the scoreboard. The goal gave Cunningham 104 career points, which ties her for the MAC career-scoring lead. Megan Shapiro (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South) assisted on the score. The loss ended a five-match unbeaten streak for the Red and White.

SEALING THE DEAL: Though Miami has outscored the opposition by a narrow 19-11 margin in first-half action this season, the RedHawks and their depth have been able to seal the deal with their second-half play. Through 18 regular-season matches, Miami has outscored the opposition by a 3-to-1 (21-7) margin in the second half. The RedHawks have blanked 13 of their 18 opponents during the second half this season, with just two opponents tallying multiple-second half scores. The RedHawks have a 0.39 second-half goals against average this season and are averaging 1.2 goals per contest in the second half.

ALL OR NOTHING: The difference between a win and a loss has been far more than a fine line for the RedHawks this season. Miami has dominated in its 11 wins this season, outscoring the opposition 36-6 while shutting out seven opponents. In victory, Miami's offense is scoring an impressive 3.3 goals per game, while its defense is surrendering a mere 0.55 goals per contest. In six losses and a tie, however, Miami's offense has been virtually silenced while enduring a 15-4 deficit, and average of just 0.53 goals per contest for the RedHawk offense. Miami has been shut out three times this season and never scored more than one goal in a loss.

IT TAKES TWO: Two has been the magic number for Miami's offense this season. When the RedHawks have scored at least twice, they've been unbeatable this season, winning 10-of-10 contests. Conversely, the RedHawks are 1-3-1 this season when scoring just one goal and 0-3 when being held scoreless. Miami's lone win when scoring less than two goals was a 1-0 defeat of Cincinnati on Sept. 17.

FIRST STRIKE: Capturing the early momentum has been a key for Miami this season. The RedHawks are a perfect 11-0-0 this season when they net the first goal of a match. In contrast, when Miami surrenders the first goal of the game, it is 0-5-1. The Red and White has rallied from a deficit only once this season.

CUNNINGHAM TAKES AIM AT MAC RECORD: With her goal at Eastern Michigan last Thursday, junior Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) tied former University at Buffalo standout Paula Listrani as the MAC's career scoring leader. Cunningham, who currently has 104 career points off 44 goals and 16 assists, will attempt to make the record all hers this Thursday in a match, which ironically features Listrani on the sidelines as a student assistant coach. Two weeks ago, Cunningham became the first player in Miami soccer history (men's or women's) and second in MAC women's soccer history to clear the century mark for career points.

DYNAMIC DUO: With an entire season of eligibility still remaining, Miami juniors Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) and Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) are firmly entrenching their reputations as the most dangerous scoring duo in MAC history. Over the past three seasons, Berkemeier and Cunningham, who have played together for the past 11 years, have accounted for 79 goals or 55 percent of Miami's scoring.

Berkemeier, the 1999 MAC Newcomer of the Year, is a two-time all-MAC honoree and currently ranks among the MAC's top five for career scoring with 92 points off 35 goals and 22 assists. She has accounted for at least a point in 16 of the last 18 matches Miami has scored in.

Cunningham, a 2000 NSCAA first-team All-American is leading the MAC in scoring for the second consecutive season. Also a two-time all-MAC honoree, Cunningham leads the MAC this season with a Miami record six game-winning goals.

HEART OF THE MIDFIELD: Two of the most consistent fixtures in Miami's lineup this season have been midfielders Shaedyn Cousino (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) and Danielle Altiero (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington)-the only Miami players to start all 18 games this season. Cousino, a two-time all-MAC honoree has been a force in the air for Miami throughout her career, consistently winning balls and setting the RedHawk offense in motion. She has contributed a goal and three assists this season. Altiero, a redshirt sophomore, has used her deft footwork to become one of the team's top playmakers. Earlier this season, she set a Miami record when she recorded three assists in a Sept. 7 defeat of Wright State. She ranks third on the team in scoring with three goals and six assists.

FIRE IN THE GOAL: Though she is the third different Miami goalkeeper in the past three years, the RedHawks have plenty of confidence in junior transfer Katie Karlander (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse), who has proven herself time and again. Karlander, who stands at 10-4-1 for the RedHawks, currently owns a 1.01 goals against average and has notched 5.5 shutouts. Perhaps her biggest contribution to Miami's defense has been her athletic ability, which allows her to blow up opponent scoring threats before they can actually take form. A starter at Syracuse during her first two seasons, Karlander set Orangewomen career records for wins and shutouts.

STEADY AS THEY COME: Miami's senior class, which was saluted with a 3-0 senior day defeat of Bowling Green on Oct. 28, has continued to make solid contributions to the program's success during the 2001 season. Included in the program's first true recruiting class are Quinn Brady (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock), Courtney Carey (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula), Julie Grosso (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto), Brooke Paul (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart) and Sarah Paul (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont).

During their four-year career, Miami's senior class, which joined the program in its second season, has helped the team to an impressive 46-25-5 overall record, two MAC Championship match appearances and an NCAA Tournament berth. Individually, the class has set itself apart with a number of stellar performances, including Carey's Miami record four goals versus Youngstown State in 1999 and Brooke Paul's two career hat tricks. Brady, who appeared in 47 consecutive contests between her freshman and senior seasons, ranks among Miami's all-time top five with 67 games played. Grosso earned her chunk of Miami soccer history last season, when she recorded the program's first NCAA tournament goal. Sarah Paul has established herself as one of the program's most reliable defenders over the past three seasons.

FRESH LEGS: In what is becoming a common theme at Miami, the RedHawk freshmen class has made substantial contributions toward the team's success. Midfielders Laura Freel (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster), Megan Shapiro (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South) and Ashley Swinehart (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington), who also plays forward, have combined for 47 appearances, four goals and five assists. The class also has provided Miami with an upgrade in team speed as well as Swinehart's flip throw-in, which has placed a number of dangerous balls within the opposition's penalty box.

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 three 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, first in the Mid-American Conference and 10th in the Great Lakes Region. The RedHawks had never been a preseason favorite in Ohio or the MAC and had never been ranked among the Great Lakes Region's Top 10. 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.