ATHENS, Ohio – The Miami University field hockey team (9-7, 4-1 MAC) beat Ohio by a 2-1 margin in a shootout on Friday. With this win, Miami will be one of the top two seeds in the MAC Tournament, earning a bye until the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 8.

Miami earned a penalty corner less than two minutes into the game but the resulting shot from Leonor Berlie was turned aside by Sophia Boothby. Ohio put together a quick counterattack but the shot was well wide. Allie Grace Joyner had her first shot of the game blocked in the sixth minute of play before the teams battled for possession for the remainder of the first quarter.

The RedHawks also earned the first penalty corner of the second quarter but nothing would come from it. The Bobcats responded by earning back-to-back penalty corners midway through the quarter but Isabelle Perese made two diving saves to keep the game scoreless. Perese made her third spectacular save of the second quarter just a couple minutes later.

Miami earned another penalty corner with under two to play in the first half but Joyner's shot went just wide as the teams entered halftime scoreless. Ohio had the 4-3 edge in shots while Miami held the 3-2 edge in penalty corners.

Ohio got onto the scoreboard first with a quick shot just three minutes into the second half.

Each team earned a penalty corner but nothing to show for them. At the 40-minute mark, Miami earned another penalty corner. Berlie's shot was deflected but just wide and the 'Hawks continued to trail by one after three quarters of play.

Perese made another save in the opening minute of the fourth quarter before the Miami offense earned back-to-back penalty corners but could not capitalize.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Berlie's shot beat the Ohio goalkeeper but a defensive player was there to register a defensive save and keep Miami from tying the game. Perese recorded her fifth save with five minutes to play in regulation.

Lexie Nugent tied the game with three minutes to play in regulation with her second goal of the season. Berlie earned the assist.

Perese made a stop on an Ohio penalty corner opportunity with two minutes to play and forced the game to overtime.

Miami controlled possession for much of the first overtime period but the game required a second overtime and neither of the RedHawks shots made it into the cage. The RedHawks had the lone penalty corner and shot in the second overtime as well but the game required a shootout.

After each goalkeeper made a stop on the first three attempts aside, Marie Gorner put Miami on the board first with a spin around move in the fourth round. Ohio evened the score at one. Lilly Petersen converted on a spin around move as well in the fifth and final round. After Perese stopped the first Ohio try, the Bobcats were granted the opportunity to re-shoot the fifth round. Perese stopped that attempt too in order to clinch the victory.

Perese made six saves in the 80 minutes of field play in addition to the four stops in the shootout. Berlie led all players with five shots, three of which were on target.

Miami hosts UC Davis on Sunday at 1 p.m. for Myaamia Heritage Day. For more information on the Myaamia Tribe, visit www.MiamiOH.edu/MTR.