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Defense keeps 'Hawks perfect

Rachelle Boff denies her opponent the chance to score in a game against Louisville Aug. 21, 2009.
Rachelle Boff denies her opponent the chance to score in a game against Louisville Aug. 21, 2009.

Alex Butler, Senior Staff Writer

Rachelle Boff denies her opponent the chance to score in a game against Louisville Aug. 21, 2009. (MICHAEL GRIGGS | The Miami Student)

So far, the Miami University women's soccer team is unfamiliar with the foul flavor of defeat.

In the first three games of the 2010 season the RedHawks have outscored opponents 19-2. They are also coming back to Oxford unscathed having paved victory lane through Clarksville, Tenn. The Red and White moved to 3-0 with a pair of 2-1 wins over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Aug. 27 and Western Illinois University Aug. 29 in the Lady Gov Invitational.

"It's obviously a good start to the season," senior Julie Thompson said. "It's always good to get wins under your belt. It's also teaching us not to take things for granted."

The Red and White met mesh in the first five minutes in each of their games so far this season. Aug. 29, sophomore Jess Kodiak pushed through midfield and buried a shot with her left boot to give the RedHawks the 1-0 advantage.

Thompson capitalized on a Sara Lund rebound with a goal at the 41 minute mark, making the score 2-0.

"Sara got the ball and turned and made a beautiful pass through the back line," Thompson said. "They played with a sweeper, so we had to adjust a little and it worked really well in the first half."

Aspirations of more scores to come were doused in a dash when the RedHawks granted a goal less than a minute after the second half whistle blew.

"It was disappointing because we wanted to come out and put in a goal and put them away," Head Coach Bobby Kramig said. "To immediately concede one, a careless one, and then it's a game again."

Although the Red and White didn't score in the final stanza, shooting just five shots compared to 12 in the first, they used their defensive rhythm to put the stranglehold on the Leathernecks (0-2-1) and leave Clarksville content.

"It's always nice to get to win," Kramig said. "It's nice that the team is coming together and building a sense of confidence. The ante will be raised now when we play two much better teams in Butler and DePaul. We've got a lot of work to do this week in practice. We've got some things we definitely need to improve upon. We will get to those and hopefully have another good road trip next weekend."

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Kramig's crew starts September with a meeting in Indianapolis with the Butler Bulldogs at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3.