Miami Blanks Saint Francis 5-0 in Season Opener

Saturday, August 25

Oxford, Ohio

12:00 p.m. ET

Miami University

(1-0)

Saint Francis

(1-1)

SFUFH

MIAMI

Miami Blanks Saint Francis 5-0 in Season Opener

8/25/2018 3:56:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Miami 5, Saint Francis 0 (PDF)

The RedHawks increase scoring with four goals in the second half.

OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University field hockey team shut out Saint Francis by a 5-0 margin in the 2018 season opener on Saturday. The RedHawks are 1-0 on the season and the Red Flash fall to 1-1.

Miami led the game in shots 30-4 and penalty corners 12-3.

"We talked before the match about having a quick transition," said head coach Iñako Puzo. "It was very important that our transition from offense to defense especially, that we could get the ball back as quickly as possible."

"We did a lot of good things," said senior Paula Portugal. "We moved the ball really well and put a lot of pressure."

Just one minute into the game, sophomore Allie Grace Joyner put the RedHawks on the board off a cross-circle pass from red-shirt senior Mariona Heras.

Both teams played a physical first half, with two green cards and a yellow card all being awarded within a minute, but Miami controlled play with 13 shots and three corner opportunities, compared to just one shot and no penalty corners from the Red Flash.

The RedHawks increased their offensive pressure in the second half, shooting 17 times and earning nine penalty corner chances. The Red Flash changed its goalkeeper at halftime.

The RedHawks were able to capitalize on a penalty corner chance 10 minutes into the second half. Portugal scored her first of the season off a pass from senior Avery Sturm to increase Miami's lead to 2-0.

With 18 minutes left to play, Saint Francis got its best chance of the game when two forwards got inside of the Miami defense alone with senior goalkeeper Maddie Passarella with a breakaway chance. Passarella made a key save and offered no rebound to keep the score at 2-0.

Portugal beat the Saint Francis goalkeeper again in the 55^th minute with a clean, hard shot.

Less than two minutes later, the RedHawks scored on another penalty corner chance. Junior Marie-Claire Görner stopped the ball for Portugal, who netted her third of the afternoon by dribbling in close to the goalkeeper and slipping it between the goalkeeper's legs.

Sophomore Leonor Berlie capped off Miami's scoring with less than three minutes left in the game with a rising shot that beat the goalkeeper to her left.

Passarella recorded two saves. Portugal led both teams with three goals on 17 shots.

Miami hosts No. 9 Delaware on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Q & A with Iñako Puzo

Q: How do you think Miami looked out there today?
A: I think we played a good game. I think in our second half we showed more personality and character. I think in the first half we were moving the ball very nice but we were moving the ball without purpose, just to keep the ball. We talked at halftime. It looked like to me that in the first half we were playing not to lose the game instead of playing to win the game and it was getting very hard on us. We did control the first half in terms of possession and circle penetrations, shots, apc's – everything – but we could not finish. We didn't go hard enough to finish against a very good team in Saint Francis. I really think that they played great. They have really talented kids. It is a team that is difficult to go around so we had to take our opportunities and that's what we did in the second half.

Q: How was Miami creating opportunities?
A: We talked before the match about having a quick transition. It was very important that our transition from offense to defense especially, that we could get the ball back as quickly as possible. We watched the game that Saint Francis played against Ball State and I thought that this is a team that if you give them the ball, they can really create a lot of damage. They are aggressive attacking inside the 25 and we had to take the ball away from them. A key moment was the transition on defense, to really be able to drop hard and to set up fast and put pressure on the ball. Besides that, at the end when we had the ball, again, quick transition – that transition was not that good in the first half but the possession was good because the team was composed and confident about keeping the ball and was just able to move the ball. In the first half, I think that we didn't go as vertical as we should have.

Q: What can you take away from today's game that you can use in your advantage for tomorrow's game against Delaware?
A: Everything. The good things but especially the bad things. There is a lot to work on. This is the first game of the season. Neither us nor Saint Francis nor Delaware – all the coaches believe that this is not the best hockey we can play. I'm sure in the case of Miami that this is not the best hockey we can play. We just have to keep working, especially looking at our mistakes and see how we're going to fix that. It's especially about character and personality. We have to show up ready to go and ready to play and play to win and that's the key.

Q & A with Paula Portugal
Q: What do you think Miami did well today?
A: I think we started the first half a little slow – we weren't really playing our game. Then in the halftime we talked about doing what we do – running, tackling back, putting energy in – so I think the second half was a lot better. We did a lot of good things. We moved the ball really well and put a lot of pressure so I think that was good for us.

Q: How does it feel to start the season off with a win, especially one at home?
A: It's good. It gives us a lot of confidence going into tomorrow's game against Delaware. We know that's going to be a hard game. Today was a hard game. It's good to start with a win and score a lot of goals.

Q: For tomorrow's game against Delaware, what can you take from today's game to help you?
A: I think the second half – just putting pressure, playing our game, moving the ball, tackling back. I think we have to have more intensity and start like we started the second half.