Oct. 2, 2009

Final Stats

MUNCIE, Ind. - With its defeat of conference rival Ball State today, Miami field hockey has now won six-straight games for the first time since the 1996 season. Miami advances to 7-4-0 overall and a perfect 4-0-0 in conference action, while Ball State falls to 2-8-0 on the season and 0-3-0 in MAC play.

It was a battle from the beginning between the RedHawks and the Cardinals, with both defenses remaining strong throughout the first period. Miami was the first to strike shortly before the half with a goal off the stick of Jackie Nguyen from Amanda Seeley and Katie Brightwell at 29:18. The RedHawks outshot the Cardinals 12-1 in the first half as well.

"We had a strong first half," commented Head Coach Jill Reeve after the game today. "We were doing what we needed to do and we looked together."

The Cardinals quickly responded in the second half with a goal by Gretchen Lulow from Kaitlan Mitchell at 44:33, but two goals from senior forward Mary Hull, unassisted at 55:58 and from Rachael Walz at 65:34, would give the RedHawks the lead they needed to capture this monumental win. The two goals bring Hull to eight total on the season and while Nguyen's was her second. This was also the sixth-consecutive match that Miami has held its opponent to only one goal.

"Mary Hull had an outstanding game for us today," said Reeve. "It was a tough game and in the second half Ball State found its rhythm and disrupted our attack. It was hard work to get those two goals to go up, but when Ball State equalized (the game), our team had a good reaction. We had a good finish and it was a good win. Missouri State has a couple of players that are high scorers in the MAC and we have to get ready for them now."

Miami will open a six game home stretch this Sunday at the Miami Field Hockey Complex at noon as they take on the visiting Missouri State Bears.