The Miami University field hockey team celebrates its victory over Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference Tournament which Miami went on to win. Miami will be competing in the NCAA Tournament. (Ben Taylor | The Miami Student)
The Miami University field hockey team claimed the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament Championship this weekend. In the semifinals, the RedHawks defeated Ohio University 2-1 and defeated Central Michigan University 2-0 in the finals.
This is Miami's second straight MAC Tournament Championship, and the RedHawks move on to the NCAA Tournament as a result of their victory Saturday. It will be the first time in school history the field hockey team will participate in the tournament.
Miami faced a tough battle in both tournament games, and both came down to the last few minutes of the second half.
"In the regular season, in our game against Ohio, we didn't get the exact result that we wanted," senior forward Alyssa Logan said. "So we were able to prove what we are capable of [this time] and I was really confident in my team."
In the Ohio game, the Bobcats struck first and went into the half up 1-0, but Miami responded with two unanswered goals.
In the final seconds of the game, the Bobcats earned a penalty corner off a Miami foul. As the clock expired the Bobcats had a chance to tie the game and send it into overtime. However, Miami was able to hold off their attacks, not once, but three times, as two more fouls were called on the RedHawks.
In their third and final attempt, the Bobcats committed a foul to end the game and put a win in the books to send Miami to the championship match.
"This wasn't an easy win, so I am really proud of our team because we kept fighting the whole way to get the result we wanted," Logan said. "The penalty corners were very nerve-racking and frustrating, but we looked at each other to calm down and in the end, it worked out."
The Chippewas denied Miami any offensive opportunities early in the championship match. While the RedHawks dominated possession, they could not find a clean shot into the back of the net for the entire first half and much of the second.
Miami was finally able to get on the board in the last 10 minutes of the game with a pair of penalty corners. The first was passed to sophomore midfielder Bea Dechant, and she made a quick move to her right and drove the ball into the back of the net.
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"Bea was sitting on the bench and I told her, 'Next corner you are going to take the ball right and take the shot, otherwise it looks like we can hit through,'" head coach Inako Puzo said. "Since her basic skills are great and she is always composed on the ball, she found the space and took an amazing shot."
The second penalty corner was a few minutes later when junior back Ali Froede dished the ball off to Logan for an easy tip into the goal.
"Central Michigan is a very good team and they have a tough defense inside their 25, and for that reason I think we give a bigger value to our championship today," Puzo said.
Miami outshot the Chippewas 18-2 and had the advantage in penalty corners 10-1.
"I'm so proud, and I couldn't imagine going through this process with any other teammates or coaching staff," Froede said. "I love this team so much, definitely a really great experience going through this twice with people I love."
Froede was named Tournament MVP.
Miami will face Michigan State University in a play-in round for the NCAA Tournament Wednesday. It is the first time the play-in game will count as a game in the tournament.
"It feels really good to finally have something for all our hard work and we have worked really hard this season and have had really tough competition," Froede said. "It's exciting to see where our team will go because the season's not done yet. We are going to focus one game at a time, starting by celebrating the win here, but soon it will be back to business."
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