RedHawks Open 2018 Season at Home

Saturday, August 25

Oxford, Ohio

12:00 p.m. ET

Miami University

Saint Francis

8/23/2018 2:14:00 PM | Field Hockey

2018 Schedule

OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University field hockey team opens the 2018 season with two home games this weekend. The Mid-American Conference favorite will host Saint Francis for Youth Day on Saturday at noon. On Sunday, the RedHawks play No. 9 Delaware at 11:30 a.m. for the Heroes and Vs. Cancer game. Last year, almost $3000 was raised for the #VsCancer initiative. Donate here to contribute to this year's fundraiser.

Miami is coming off a historic 2017 season after going 12-9 overall and a perfect 6-0 in conference play. The RedHawks capped off the season with MAC regular season and tournament titles before winning the first NCAA Tournament game in program history at Stanford (2-1).

The Red and White return 25 letterwinners from the 2017 squad, including eight seniors. Miami returns last season's MAC Player of the Year Paula Portugal and MAC Freshman of the Year Leonor Berlie, both of whom were All-MAC First Team players and named to an All-Region team. Portugal was also named All-American Second Team by the NFHCA. The RedHawks also return All-MAC First Team senior goalkeeper Maddie Passarella and All-MAC Second Team senior Avery Sturm as well as three All-Tournament team players in Portugal, Passarella and A. Sturm.

Head coach Iñako Puzo, senior back Kendall Hunker and sophomore midfielder Neely Lochmoeller spoke with MiamiRedHawks.com about their goals for this weekend and the season.

OPPONENT PREVIEW

ABOUT SAINT FRANCIS: The Red Flash finished the 2017 season with an 8-9 overall record and an even 4-4 record in conference play. Saint Francis posted a 1-1 record against other MAC opponents last season, earning the victory against Central Michigan. The Red Flash return the top two scorers from the 2017 season in senior forward/midfielders Brianna Govia and Brea Seabrook.

SERIES WITH SAINT FRANCIS: The RedHawks beat the Red Flash by a 3-2 margin in 2012 in the only previous meeting between these two teams.

ABOUT DELAWARE: The Blue Hens went 15-5 overall last season and a perfect 5-0 in conference games. After winning the CAA Tournament, Delaware fell to Penn State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2016, the Blue Hens were the national champions, beating North Carolina by a 3-2 margin in the finals. Delaware returns its leading scorer in senior forward Greta Nauck, who tallied 25 goals and six assists in 2017 for a total of 56 points.

SERIES WITH DELAWARE: This will be the first meeting between the Blue Hens and the RedHawks.

UP AHEAD: The RedHawks travel to California for a three-game series next week. On Thursday, Miami plays at Pacific at 6 p.m. ET. The Red and White faces off against UC Davis on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET and concludes the trip with a contest at the University of California on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.