Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. Â- The Miami University field hockey team fought hard and in unison on their way to a 3-1 victory over Indiana on Friday afternoon. The win is the team's first against the Hoosiers since 2008, and the first under head coach Inako Puzo. The win moves the RedHawks to 4-2 on the year.
"Today was about playing with passion," said Puzo. "We were proactive and attacked the game, and the results came inside the circle. Miami played together and composed and the scoreboard reflected that."
The Red & White wasted no time gaining the advantage in the game's opening moments. Reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Week Paula Portugal got the scoring started in the contest's fourth minute. The freshman's backhand, roof-shot goal was her fourth on the season and was unassisted.
Miami followed up soon after as sophomore Brianna Stahl knocked home her first goal of the season in the game's 56th minute of play, receiving the ball of a tip from junior Kate McLaughlin.
Geagy Pritchard also chipped in offensively, collecting two shot attempts. The RedHawks held a 5-0 advantage in shots on goal and headed into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
The second half saw Indiana obtain more shot attempts, but the RedHawks limited the Hoosier's circle penetration and forced a number of low angle shots that traveled well wide of the net.
Indiana eventually cut the Miami lead in half in the match's 56th minute of play when Nicole Volgraf deflected a shot past goalkeeper Alysa Xavier. The RedHawks held the Hoosiers to zero shots on goal up until that point.
With the gap narrowed to one and Indiana having an opportunity to even things up, the Red & White held strong, controlling all but the five minutes leading up to Indiana's goal.
"We committed to playing together, and for and with each other," said senior Bea Dechant. "It was important for us to be ruthless on both sides of the ball, and we did that as a team."
In the 68th minute, Portugal collected her second score of the game, and fifth on the year, to give Miami the necessary cushion to close out the win.
Xavier saved one of the two shots on goal she faced, improving her record to 4-2 as well.
The RedHawks get back in action this Sunday as they host No. 6 Virginia. Start time for that game is at noon. Come out and support your RedHawks as they welcome another top-10 team to Oxford!
