Sept. 19, 2008
Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
OXFORD, Ohio - In a regional field hockey game that pitted two 5-1 teams against each other, sisters battling for the first time, and a fast paced strategy by both teams, the Miami University field hockey team found itself of the short end of a 5-1 score against No. 10 Michigan State on Friday afternoon at the Miami Turf Field.
The visiting Spartans took advantage of a 20-to-10 edge in shots and a three-goal outburst in 10 first-half minutes to give Miami its second loss through seven games in 2008.
"I know the score was 5-1, but I felt that we outplayed Michigan State in a lot of areas," said Miami head coach Jill Reeve. "They finished and we didn't. That is a shame that the score looks so lop-sided. I was really pleased with how we played. I think we had a 10-minute lapse that put us behind and we had a hard time coming out of it."
After a quick MSU goal in the fourth minute, Miami answered back in the 17th minute when junior forward Mary Hull attacked the Spartan defense and found a streaking Maggie Marcum down the right side for the junior's third goal of the season to knot the count at one.
Marcum described how she beat the Michigan State keeper.
"I took the shot and it went across to the opposite post. I knew she was going to come over to where I was on that side of the cage. I tried to aim for the opposite post as much as I possibly could."
Marcum's goal would be all the scoring the RedHawks could muster against a tough Spartan team. The hosts controlled the ball and attacked for much of the second half, but were unable to beat MSU's Elissa Unger again.
Even after the first-half barrage of goals from the Spartans, Reeve said that the RedHawks maintained their pre-game focus and proved a lot in their second-half effort.
"We didn't change much after (the MSU goals) strategically. We did own a lot more of the second half than we did in the first half."
One player that attacked Michigan State, relentlessly, was freshman midfielder Amanda Seeley, who came up with several turnovers and kept the ball in Miami's half in the second frame.
"She is a defensive terrier. You cannot get away from her. She played really well and came up with some big intercepts. I think that, as she grows as a player, she is going to become more and more formidable," said the fifth-year Miami head coach.
Even more daunting than facing the Michigan State offense for freshman goalkeeper Abbey Huck was the fact that she was competing against her older sister, Amanda, a Michigan State sophomore forward.
Huck responded well in both categories. Despite allowing a season-high five goals, the Emmaus, Pa. native set a career-high with seven saves, including several point-blank stops.
"I think our team played well," said Huck. "The score did not reflect the game. Both teams played really well. It was a nice fought match. We did have some tweaks in the defense that we are going to clean up. They (Michigan State) are a good team."
When asked about facing her sister, Huck finally cracked a smile following just her second loss as a collegian.
"Before the game, all day today, we did not talk. When it came to game time, we did our little handshake in the middle of the field. It was really weird to see her on the field."
"We have played over 120 games together in club and in high school," said Huck. "This is the first time, other than scrimmaging and in practice, that we played against each other."
Four of MSU's five goals came on penalty-corner set plays. Huck explained that the responsibility for the goals can be split between the teams.
"We need to finish on some stuff that we need to do. Finish on every ball. But, they had some nice corners."
Christine Brightwelll put a team-high four shots on goal for the RedHawks, and Miami did manage to execute eight penalty corners, but the Spartans totaled 10 and took advantage of those nearly half of those opportunities.
At 5-2, the RedHawks have plenty to be optimistic about and will get a chance to bounce back in just two days when they face the University of the Pacific Tigers on Sunday in the final game of the Miami September Showcase.
"Pacific is very much like us. They are fast to the ball. They like to press high. I think it is going to be a really fun game," said Reeve.
The RedHawks, despite the loss, can prove a lot on Sunday, as the Tigers are much better than their 1-5 record, having just lost to Indiana, 4-3 in overtime, on Thursday in Oxford.
Furthermore, Miami will be dealing with its second sibling rivalry in as many days as Mary Hull's sister, Haley, is a sophomore forward for the Tigers.
Pacific and Michigan State face off tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the third game of the Miami September Showcase before the RedHawks take on the Tigers at noon on Sunday.
Admission to the Miami September Showcase is free.
