Nov. 8, 2001

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REDHAWKS FACE EASTERN MICHIGAN IN MAC SEMIFINAL GRUDGE MATCH: Fresh off a dominant Mid-American Conference defeat of the University at Buffalo, Miami University's women's soccer team travels to Athens, Ohio, this Friday to continue defense of its 2000 Mid-American Conference Tournament title in an 11 a.m. tilt with the Eastern Michigan University Eagles.

Awaiting the RedHawks is an Eastern Michigan team that has turned away nine consecutive MAC opponents. In the teams' only regular-season meeting, a Nov. 1 match played under Miami's protest of what it deemed to be dangerous field conditions, Eastern Michigan tallied the match's first three goals and cruised to a 3-1 victory and a No. 2 seed for the MAC Tournament. Despite the setback to the Eagles, Miami enters its third consecutive MAC Semifinal with the No. 3 seed and plenty of momentum. Excluding the loss to the Eagles, Miami is 5-0-1 over its past six matches and has outscored the opposition 17-1.

In the other MAC Semifinal, top-seeded Ohio University takes on fourth-seeded Central Michigan University at 2 p.m. Central Michigan (11-8-1, 8-4-0 MAC) bested the Bobcats 1-0 in a Sept. 28 contest in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., but Ohio (12-8-0, 10-2-0 MAC) won eight of its final nine MAC contests to capture the No. 1 seed.

The championship match is scheduled for noon on Sunday, Nov. 11 with the two remaining teams battling for the MAC's automatic NCAA berth.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS: Miami, which averaged a league-leading 2.6 goals per contest in MAC play, is led by the dynamic junior duo of Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield), the 1999 MAC Newcomer of the Year, and Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley), a 2000 NSCAA first-team All-American. Cunningham led the league in MAC play with 22 points on 10 goals and two assists. Berkemeier ranked fourth in the league with 18 points on six goals and six assists. Headlining the midfield for the RedHawks are junior Shaedyn Cousino (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill), a two-time all-MAC honoree, and sophomore Danielle Altiero (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington), who leads Miami with nine assists. Defensively, a deep defender corps has overcome countless injuries to post a 0.89 goals against average versus MAC foes. Junior transfer Katie Karlander (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse) has seen action in all but three Miami contests, recording a 0.91 GAA versus the MAC, including 4.5 shutouts.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Eastern Michigan, the 1999 MAC regular-season and tournament champions, is a tournament-savvy program that is making its fifth MAC postseason appearance in five seasons. Leading Scott Hall's Eagles, who blanked Western Michigan 4-0 in the quarterfinal, is sophomore forward Jessica Hupe, who ranks second in MAC scoring with 20 points on eight goals and four assists. Offensively, EMU ranks second in MAC contests, averaging 2.33 goals per game. In goal, the Eagles rely on freshman Nicki Allen, who boasts a 0.82 goals against average in league play. Eastern Michigan ranks fourth in the MAC defensively, allowing just 0.92 goals per game.

MIAMI-EASTERN MICHIGAN SERIES HISTORY: In what has evolved into one of the MAC's most intense rivalries, Eastern Michigan and Miami are squaring off for the seventh time. The Eagles, the only MAC foe Miami has never bested, hold a dominant 5-0-1 series advantage. Despite the one-sided appearance of the series history, the Eagles and RedHawks have squared off in several memorable and hotly contested battles, including an epic struggle in the 1999 MAC Championship that ended in a scoreless tie after four overtimes and 150 minutes of play. Eastern Michigan went on to capture the MAC's first NCAA Tournament berth that day by besting the RedHawks in penalty kicks. EMU and Miami are meeting for the first time at a neutral site.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS: Returning to the MAC Semifinals for the fourth time in the past five seasons after a 2-1 quarterfinal defeat of Ball State, Ohio University is aiming to return to the MAC Title match for the first time since 1998. Ohio, the MAC regular-season champion, is led by sophomore forward Christel Schiering, who netted eight goals in MAC play. Also making strong contributions on the offfensive end have been midfielders Abby Leopold, who has six assists and a total of 10 points, and Nicki Pendleton, who has five goals and six assists for 16 points. Defensively, Stacy Strauss' Bobcats lead the league, allowing just 0.58 goals per outing. Senior netminder Vandessa Dennis leads all MAC goalkeepers with at least 300 minutes of MAC action, posting a 0.56 GAA versus the league.

MIAMI-OHIO SERIES HISTORY: A MAC Championship match pitting Miami and Ohio would mark the third consecutive year that the RedHawks faced the league's regular-season champion in the MAC Tournament. Ohio and Miami have faced off seven times previously, with five of the seven matches being decided by one goal. The Bobcats, who defeated Miami, 2-0, on Oct. 12, lead the overall series 4-3 but had lost three straight to the RedHawks prior to this season. In the teams' only previous MAC postseason meeting, Miami earned a 1-0 MAC Quarterfinal victory in Oxford last season. The RedHawks are 1-3 versus the Bobcats in Athens.

SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS: Looking for its first MAC Championship match appearance, Central Michigan enters the MAC Semifinals for the second time in the program's four-year history. Mark Salisbury's fourth-seeded squad earned its berth via a 2-1 defeat of fifth-seeded Marshall last Tuesday. Led by senior forward Allison Campbell, who is tied for second in the MAC with 20 points versus league opponents, CMU's offense ranks third in the MAC, averaging 2.08 goals per outing. In goal, sophomore Kari Alexander has seen the majority of the time for the Chippewas, posting a 0.94 overall goals against average and four shutouts.

MIAMI-CENTRAL MICHIGAN SERIES HISTORY: If Miami and Central Michigan square off in the MAC Championship match, it would mark the sixth meeting of what has been a back-and-forth series. On Sept. 21, the RedHawks defeated the Chippewas in Mt. Pleasant to record their first win on CMU's home turf and even the series at 2-2-1. In 1999, the RedHawks and Chippewas met in the MAC Semifinals in Ypsilanti, Mich., where the RedHawks captured a 2-1 victory. Central Michigan became the only team to score a MAC postseason goal versus Miami in that loss. That Miami win stands as the teams' only postseason meeting and only meeting at a neutral site.

THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT: This season marks the fifth season that the Mid-American Conference has held a women's soccer tournament and third season that the MAC Tournament Champion earns an automatic NCAA Tournament berth. A tremendously competitive event, each of the first four MAC Championship matches have had to be resolved in overtime. Northern Illinois earned the first two MAC titles, defeating Eastern Michigan, 3-2, in 1997 and Ohio in 1998, 2-1. The 1999 MAC Championship went down as the longest match in MAC women's soccer history, as Eastern Michigan and Miami battled through 150 scoreless minutes. EMU advanced to claim the league's first NCAA Tournament berth via a 5-3 penalty shootout win. Last season, Miami earned its first MAC Tournament title, defeating Bowling Green,1-0, in double-overtime. Miami and Eastern Michigan have each qualified for the MAC Championship match twice, while Ohio has qualified once. Central Michigan is in search of its first title game appearance.

'HAWKS IN THE TOURNEY: Miami's 2001 women's soccer team attempts to carry on a fine tradition of MAC postseason play with Thursday's semifinal match versus Eastern Michigan. 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 6-0-1 record. Last season, Miami defeated Ohio, Buffalo and Bowling Green on the way to its 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 0.12 goals against average. Miami has blanked the opposition in five consecutive MAC postseason matches, dating back to the 1999 championship game, and maintains a shutout streak of 599 minutes. Over the past two tournaments, Miami has placed three defenders and a goalkeeper on the MAC all-tournament team. The RedHawk defense enters this season with a lower regular-season GAA and more shutouts than any other season in program history.

MAC QUARTERFINAL-MIAMI 7, BUFFALO 0: Miami's women's soccer team made quite a statement in its MAC Quarterfinal match with Buffalo last Tuesday, rolling to seven second-half goals in the highest-scoring outing in MAC Tournament history. Following a scoreless first half, Miami finally got on the board with a Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) score in the 48th minute. From there, Miami got two goals and two assists from freshman Ashley Swinehart (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington), goals from Katie Mach (Palatine, Ill./Fremd), Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley), Shaedyn Cousino (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) and Brooke Paul (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart) and three assists from Danielle Altiero (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington). Katie Karlander (Carmel, Ind./Syracuse) notched her sixth complete-game Miami shutout behind a Miami defense that allowed only two shots on goal.

According to Kramig, defense was the key."Scoring seven goals was great, but with the way our defense played today we could have won with one," Kramig said. "Defense wins championships, and that's becoming the trademark of this team in the MAC Tournament."

HEAD COACH BOBBY KRAMIG: Guiding Miami into its third consecutive MAC Semifinal 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 54-38-5 (.582) 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 205-184-26 (.525).

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 19 matches, Miami has outscored the opposition by a 4-to-1 (28-7) margin in the second half. The RedHawks have blanked 14 of their 19 opponents during the second half this season, with just two opponents tallying multiple second-half scores. The RedHawks have a 0.37 second-half goals against average this season and are averaging 1.5 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 12 wins this season, outscoring the opposition 42-6 while shutting out seven opponents. In victory, Miami's offense is scoring an impressive 3.5 goals per game, while its defense is surrendering a mere 0.50 goals per contest. In six losses and a tie, however, Miami's offense has been virtually silenced, enduring a 15-4 deficit and averaging just 0.53 goals per contest. 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 11-of-11 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 12-0-0 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, resulting in a 1-1 tie with Ball State.

CUNNINGHAM BECOMES MAC ALL-TIME SCORING LEADER: With a second-half goal versus Buffalo last Tuesday, junior Andrea Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) surpassed former Buffalo standout Paula Listrani as the MAC's career scoring leader. Cunningham, who has 106 career points off 45 goals and 16 assists, netted the goal in the 84th minute. Versus Western Michigan on Oct. 21, 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 81 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 94 points on 36 goals and 22 assists. She has accounted for at least a point in 17 of the last 19 matches in which Miami has scored. With two assists, Berkemeier could become the first Miami player to record a season double-double in goals and assists.

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. She needs just one goal to tie her own Miami single-season record of 16 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 19 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 two goals and three assists this season. In a perfect example of the toughness she has come to personify, Cousino shook off a first-half ankle injury versus Buffalo Tuesday and returned in the second half to tally a goal.

Altiero, a redshirt sophomore, has used her deft footwork to become one of the team's leading 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 and leads the team with nine assists. She matched her single-game record with three assists versus Buffalo this past Tuesday.

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 11-4-1 for the RedHawks, owns a 0.95 goals against average and has notched 6.5 shutouts. Perhaps her biggest contribution to Miami's defense has been her athletic ability, which allows her to blow up 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. For her career, Karlander currently has 36 wins, 21.5 shutouts and 276 saves. A former NSCAA regional high school All-American, Karlander gave up just three goals during her prep career.

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 freshman 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 50 appearances, six goals and seven 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.