OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University field hockey team (11-7, 5-1 MAC) hosts the 2019 Mid-American Conference Tournament this week. The tournament includes six games between all seven MAC teams and is single elimination. The RedHawks are the No. 2 seed and will play on Friday at 2:30 p.m. against the winner of the No. 3 Ohio/No. 6 Appalachian State/No. 7 Central Michigan game.

Miami enters the MAC Tournament with an 11-7 overall record and a 5-1 mark in conference play. The RedHawks earned a regular-season championship for the third-straight season. Last season, Miami captured the tournament championship with a 5-3 win over Kent State in the tournament final.

The RedHawks' lone conference loss was a 3-2 game at Kent State. Junior midfielder Leonor Berlie leads the conference in goals (13), points (31), shots (98) and shots on goal (54), and is tied for second in game-winning goals (3). Freshman goalkeeper Isabelle Perese has two shutouts and ranks second in the MAC in GAA (1.55), including two shootouts and one overtime win.

Head Coach Iñako Puzo spoke to MiamiRedHawks.com about Miami's win over Central Michigan to wrap up regular-season play and previewed the MAC Tournament.
 

SCOUTING REPORT

No. 1 Kent State (10-8, 5-1 MAC)
The Golden Flashes captured the regular-season MAC Championship with a 5-1 record in conference play and earned the No. 1 seed with a 3-2 win over Miami. Kent State's lone loss in MAC play was in double overtime to Longwood in the regular-season finale.

Clara Rodriguez Seto leads the Kent State offense with eight goals and eight assists for 24 total points, ranking second in the MAC in both assists and points and tying for third in goals. Teammate Laila Richter leads the conference with 10 assists. Azure Fernsler has recorded four shutouts in the cage and ranks third in the MAC in both GAA (1.60) and save percentage (.769).

No. 3 Ohio (8-7, 4-2 MAC)
The Bobcats finished third in the conference with a 4-2 record in MAC play. Ohio's conference losses came at the hands of the top-two seeds in Kent State and Miami. In its four conference wins, Ohio outscored its opponents a combined 17-7.

Kendall Ballard leads the Ohio offense with eight goals and five assists for 21 total points. She is third in the conference in points and tied for third in goals. Sophia Boothby plays the majority of the minutes in the cage and has a 2.35 GAA and a solo shutout.

No. 4 Ball State (5-12, 3-3 MAC)
The Cardinals finished fourth in the MAC with a 3-3 record against conference opponents this season. Ball State was shutout by Kent State, Miami and Longwood while outscoring its competition 5-1 in its other three MAC contests, earning two shutouts and an overtime win.

Michelle Shampton leads the Ball State offense with five goals and five assists for 15 total points. Wiets Overdijkink and Grace Chavez have shared the majority of time in the cage this season with Overdijkink leading in GAA (1.46) and save percentage (.833).

No. 5 Longwood (8-9, 3-3 MAC)
The Lancers were fifth in the MAC with a 3-3 record in MAC play this season. Longwood beat Kent State and Appalachian State both in extra time and also earned a shutout against Central Michigan. The Lancers lost to Miami, Ohio and then Ball State in overtime.

Karly Harwood leads the Longwood offense with nine goals and 18 points this season, ranking second in the MAC in goals and fifth in points. Katie Wyman has played every minute in the cage this season, leading the conference GAA (1.51) and save percentage (.790). Wyman is tied for the most shutouts (6).

No. 6 Appalachian State (9-8, 1-5 MAC)
The Mountaineers finished sixth in the conference with a 1-5 MAC record. Appalachian State's conference win was a 5-2 decision against Central Michigan.

Meghan Smart and Veerle Van Heertum both lead the Appalachian State offense with six goals, two assists and 14 points apiece, which ties for seventh in the MAC in goals and ties for eighth in points. Rachel Gaines has played the majority of the minutes in the cage, tying with Wyman for the most shutouts in the conference (6).

No. 7 Central Michigan (2-16, 0-6 MAC)
The Chippewas were seventh in the MAC with a 0-6 record in conference play. Central Michigan was shutout three times against MAC opponents while being outscored 22-5.

Alice O'Hagan leads the Central Michigan offense with six goals, two assists and 14 total points, tying for seventh in the conference in goals and eighth in points. Abigail Ebersole has played the majority of the minutes in the cage this season and leads the MAC in saves (155) and saves per game (9.12).