Miami field hockey has a busy schedule this week.
Friday, the RedHawks will attempt to stay undefeated in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play vs. Ball State. Sunday, the team hosts No. 16 Wake Forest, and on Monday they travel to Kentucky to face off against No.4 Louisville.
It’s been a disappointing start to the campaign for the four-time defending MAC-champ ’Hawks, who’ve started 5-6 after beginning the season ranked No. 21 in the country.
An incredibly tough schedule that has already included five nationally ranked teams (not including the two later this weekend) has largely been their undoing.
The team started off the season with three consecutive losses, two of which came against top ranked teams, No. 4 Northwestern and No. 15 Connecticut. Since, Miami has won three games, including one against MAC-opponent Appalachian State. But they’ve also lost to No. 19 Ohio State and No. 11 Virginia, and received a 7-2 drubbing by defending national champions No. 7 North Carolina.
After this week, the ‘Hawks will mercifully move into the conference portion of their schedule. The team plays just one more game against a non-conference opponent, No. 25 Michigan State.
The RedHawks shouldn’t have any trouble with this week’s first opponent, Ball State. The Cardinals have looked outmatched against good competition; Michigan shut them out en route to a 12-0 win, and Michigan State beat them 7-0. Ball State has had trouble gaining momentum on offense; they’ve managed to score more than one goal only twice this season. Both times, they finished with two.
Wake Forest should present a tougher task. The Demon Deacons rank 12th in Division I for offense, scoring three goals per game. And Louisville will be, arguably, even more of a challenge. The Cardinals rely on a stifling defense; the squad has only allowed six goals (and just 28 shots) in eight games.
SCOUTING REPORT
GAME 1
Miami RedHawks vs. Ball State Cardinals
Faceoff: 1 p.m. Friday, October 1, at the Miami Field Hockey Complex
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MIAMI REDHAWKS
Record: 5-6 (2-0 MAC)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Player (position, class, key stats)
Claudia Negrete Garcia (striker, sophomore, 11 gp, 7 g, 3 a)
Lexie Nugent (midfielder, senior, 11 gp, 3 g, 1 a)
Morgan Sturm (midfielder, senior, 10 gp, 3 g, 1 a)
Isabele Parese (goalkeeper, junior, 11 gp, 72.2% save percentage)
BALL STATE CARDINALS
Record: 3-7 (1-1 MAC)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Player (position, class, key stats)
Agostina Giudice (forward, first-year, 8 gp, 1 g, 2 a)
Paloma Rengifo (forward, sophomore, 6 gp, 1 g, 1 a)
Libby Kraus (midfielder, junior, 8 gp, 0 g, 2 a)
Hannah Johnston (goalkeeper, sophomore, 6 gp, 58.8% save percentage)
GAME 2
Miami RedHawks vs. No. 16 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Faceoff: 12 p.m. Sunday, October 3, at the Miami Field Hockey Complex
MIAMI REDHAWKS
Record: 5-6 (1-0 MAC)
NO. 16 WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS
Record: 4-4 (1-1 ACC)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Player (position, class, key stats)
Meike Lanckohr (midfield, senior, 8 gp, 7 g, 1 a)
Nat Friedman (midfielder, junior, 8 gp, 1 g, 5 a)
Elisha Evans (midfielder, graduate, 8 gp, 3 g, 5 a)
Tori Glaister (goalkeeper, sophomore, 8 gp, 53.8% save percentage)
GAME 3
Miami RedHawks vs. No. 4 Louisville Cardinals
Faceoff: 12 p.m. Monday, October 4, at Trager Stadium in Louisville, KY
MIAMI REDHAWKS
Record: 5-6 (1-0 MAC)
No. 4 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Record: 9-1 (2-0 ACC)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Player (position, class, key stats)
Mattie Tabor (forward, junior, 10 gp, 4 g, 2 a)
Katie Schneider (forward, senior, 10 gp, 4 g, 3 a)
Filippa Niebuhr (forward, first-year, 10 gp, 3 g, 1 a)
Mila de Kuijer (goalkeeper, first-year, 10 gp, 0.68 Goals Against Average)
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