Nov. 13, 2002

OXFORD, Ohio - For the second consecutive year, senior forward Danielle Berkemeier (Fairfield, OH/Fairfield) has been honored as a member of Soccer Buzz Magazine's Elite Team of the Week after her incredible performance in the Mid-American Conference Tournament where she tallied five goals, three assists as she led Miami to its third straight MAC Tournament title.

In less than a week period, Berkemeier was named 2002 MAC Player of the Year, scored a goal and two assists in a 5-1 win over Central Michigan in the quarterfinal, notched three goals on three shots for her first career hat trick in a 3-0 win over Bowling Green in the semifinal and capped the week off with a goal and assist in a 5-1 win over Ohio in the MAC Championship.

For her career, Berkemeier has tallied 16 postseason goals in 15 postseason outings, including a remarkable eight game-winning scores.

Joining Berkemeier on the Elite Team are 10 other players from across the nation, including Marcie Ward from the nationally top-ranked Stanford Cardinals. Other standouts recognized for their performances over the past week included defenders Leslie Gaston of North Carolina, Jen Miller of Ohio State and Angie Portincaso of Denver.

Berkemeier and Miami travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., Friday to take on Michigan State at 11 a.m. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The RedHawks are making their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.