Sept. 15, 2017 Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University field hockey team shut out Ohio 3-0 to begin conference play this season. The RedHawks improve to 3-4 on the season and the Bobcats drop to 1-6.
"Today is a great win against an Ohio team that played good and never gave up," said head coach Inako Puzo. "It is always difficult to come to Athens and leave with a victory. I am proud for the hard work of our players. They played with intensity and discipline. It was important for us to make small adjustments to our game in order to get the best of our players. We were more vertical than we usually are. This verticality gave us a nice number of good opportunities in front of the goal. The best from today's game is that we played with 17 players and 14 of them will come back for the 2018 season. We are able to play and compete at a high level this year while we keep building a program for the future."
Miami led the game in shots 14-3, shots on goal 7-1 and penalty corners 6-5.
Paula Portugal opened scoring in the 23rd minute of play with her fifth goal of the season on a backhanded shot into the corner of the net.
As the clock wound down in the first half, Lexie Nugent gave the RedHawks a 2-0 lead with her third goal of the season, assisted on a pass from Portugal.
In the 55th minute of play, Neely Lochmoeller tipped in her first collegiate goal, assisted by Portugal.
Portugal was awarded a penalty stroke with three minutes to play in the game. Her attempt was turned aside by Ohio goalkeeper, Alex Pennington.
"Today was a typical MAC contest between two teams that were going to fight for a win," said junior back/midfielder Avery Sturm. "We were focused on keeping up the intensity for 70 minutes, fight for every ball and do the simple things well. It was important for us to work the entire game and for each of us commit to a total group effort. This is a great start to our MAC season."
Portugal led both teams with seven shots on goal. Maddie Passarella made one save in net.
The RedHawks' conference play continues on Sunday at noon at Appalachian State.
