Nov. 5, 2010

Final Stats

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - The Miami field hockey team is heading to the MAC Championship game for the second straight year and the third time in the past four seasons with a 3-0 victory over Ohio in the Semifinals on Friday. The RedHawks improve to 14-6, with the 14 wins tying for third-most in school history. The Bobcats finish the season at 12-10.

"I think it was a really good battle today between two really good teams," said head coach Jill Reeve. "We really had to fight for it."

Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Mueller, named to the All-MAC Second Team on Thursday, was on top of her game early on. She made three early saves in the first 10 minutes to keep the game scoreless. Still scoreless in the 22nd minute, Olivia Miller found Kelsey Lund across the goal and Lund buried the shot to give Miami a 1-0 lead. That advantage would hold through halftime even though Ohio outshot the RedHawks 6-5 and had a 5-1 advantage in penalty corners.

"Sarah really saved us early on with some huge plays," said Reeve. "She was a real leader back there and kept us calm."

Miami struck again early in the second half. Mary Hull scored her 14th goal of the year off of a Kate Snyder assist in the 43rd minute to make it 2-0. In the 63rd minute, Kylie Landeros concluded the scoring when she found the loose ball during a penalty corner and beat the Bobcat goalie.

"Each of the goals today was a great play and a really big moment," said Reeve.

Ohio outshot Miami, 13-7 for the game and had the penalty corner advantage at 10-3. Lund led the RedHawks with three shots, two of which were on goal. Mueller finished the contest with five saves to earn her third consecutive shutout and eighth of the season.

Miami will take on top seed and fellow MAC Co-Regular Season Champion Kent State for the MAC Tournament Championship on Saturday at 1 p.m.