Redhawks host Eastern Illinois on Sept. 10
Miami University and Eastern Illinois will square-off for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 p.m. Saturday’s contest will be the first meeting between the two schools.
The last time Miami competed against the Ohio Valley Conference was back in 2014 in a 17-10 loss at home to Eastern Kentucky University in Coach Martin’s first year.
Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (673), MAC Championships (15), bowl appearances (10) and bowl wins (7). In 127 years of Miami football, the RedHawks have had just 33 losing seasons. Since joining the MAC in 1948 (67 years) Miami has had just 16 losing seasons.
Miami ended the 2015 season at UMass and opened the 2016 on the road at Iowa. They finally return to the friendly confides of Yager Stadium this weekend versus EIU. Miami has a 90-70-4 record inside the building that opened in 1983.
Miami Athletics is attempting to break a student attendance record this weekend, a record that has stood since Sept. 27, 2003. In that contest versus Cincinnati, 8,088 students watched the RedHawks capture a 42-37 win over the Bearcats. Miami students are asked to use the #1of8089 to help promote the game.
In its season opener, the Miami University football team impressed on offense, outgaining the 17th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes 424-404 yards in a 45-21 loss Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium. The RedHawks held possession for over 36 minutes and gained 25 first downs, but the Hawkeyes scored three touchdowns off of Miami turnovers and converted on all six red zone opportunities.
Miami had arguably its best rushing performance since Chuck Martin arrived on campus versus No. 17 Iowa. Finishing the game with 158 yards on 41 carries versus a Big Ten opponent is impressive. For comparison, Miami ran for three yards at Wisconsin last season. Not only that, the 158 yards is the sixth-highest rushing output under Martin and the second-highest rushing performance under Martin versus a school not from the Mid-American Conference (220 yards vs. Cincinnati last season).
In the contest with the Iowa Hawkeyes, six RedHawks made their first career start. Offensively Jordan Rigg, Jordan Diamond and Sam Shisso made starts and Nate Trawick, Junior McMullen and Tony Reid recorded starts on defense. Eleven other players saw their first career action as RedHawks.
After throwing nine interceptions in his first 63 pass attempts (1 INT every 7 throws), Billy Bahl has been taking care of the ball. In his final 157 passes of 2015 he turned the ball over just four times and threw 29 passes in the loss to Iowa without turning the ball over. In all, he has thrown just four interceptions in his last 186 pass attempts.
Late goal lifts Miami soccer to win
MIAMI, FLORIDA — Each and every goal the Miami soccer team has scored this season has come after halftime with all but one occurring in the final 10 minutes of regulation or overtime.
Sunday afternoon, Sept. 4, was no different as Shae van Gassen’s 85th minute strike lifted the Red and White to a 1-0 win at Florida International.
“I told the team at halftime that the most courageous team was going to win this game and that’s what happened for us,” head coach Bobby Kramig said. “The remarkable things about this team are how they never quit and that they have a knack for scoring goals late in the game. That speaks to their competitiveness and never say die attitude.”
Shots were aplenty on both sides over the first 20 minutes of play, with MU (2-3) attempting five and FIU (0-4-1) four in that span. All of the Panthers’ were on target, but Vic Maniaci continued her stellar weekend with stops on each try. The Red and White had a couple opportunities starting in the 18th minute as Amy Malone launched a free kick wide and had another look off a corner kick in the 20th minute that Sophia Trujillo stopped.
After ceding four of the first six shot attempts, the RedHawks controlled possession the remainder of the opening frame by taking seven of the final nine shots. None of those found the net, however, as the contest remained scoreless at the break.
“We played a very good first half and had a lot of chances that we couldn’t convert,” Kramig said. “In the second half, Friday night started showing up as FIU had an extra day of rest. We weathered the storm and got going down the stretch.”
The Panthers took the bulk of the shot attempts over the first 22 minutes of the second half, firing six of the nine shots to even the category up at 12 apiece by the 78th minute. Like in the first half, MU began to wear FIU down with its possession and began threatening in the attacking third.
In the 85th minute, that attack bore fruit as Sam Worthman got to the end line and served a cross into the middle to the oncoming head of van Gassen. The junior transfer from Schoolcraft was true on her redirection for her first NCAA goal to put the RedHawks on the scoresheet with 5:59 left in regulation. From there, Miami’s defense smothered Florida International’s attempts to answer, not even allowing a single shot in the final six minutes.
“Sam broke down the defense down the right side and Shae beat the defender to the ball and buried a great header,” Kramig said. “That was a first rate goal.”
“Sam got to the end of a clearance and played a great cross right to my head at the front post and the goalkeeper dove the opposite way,” van Gassen said. “It definitely helps my confidence to get that first goal and do what I’m supposed to do to help the team by putting one in the net.”
Miami ended up owning a 15-12 advantage in shots for the day, with nine of their attempts on goal. The RedHawks also had a slim 4-3 edge in corner kick attempts. Maniaci picked up her first win and solo shutout of the season by stopping all six shots she faced while Trujillo saved eight of the nine shots that came her way.
RedHawks edged by BU, 2-1
BOSTON, MASS. – The Miami University field hockey team controlled possession for a large amount of the game, but 17th-ranked Boston University was able to capitalize on a couple of mistakes to take a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon. The RedHawks fall to 2-3 on the season, while the Terriers improve to 4-0.
“It was a great game of hockey,” said head coach Inako Puzo. “It was well played by both teams and the officials did a great job. We were able to maintain possession of the ball for long periods of time and dictate play of the game. We made critical mistakes during some periods of the game due to the great pressure of BU. These mistakes resulted in dangerous situations in our defensive circle. BU does a great job of adding numbers into the attack which led to many positive outcomes for them. Including their two goals on the board.”
Miami had a pair of chances early in the first half. Sophomore midfielder Paula Portugal had a shot in the 12th minute that was stopped by the Terrier goalkeeper. It led to the RedHawks being awarded a penalty corner. Miami would get another good chance, but the shot from sophomore back Avery Sturm went just wide.
The game remained scoreless until the final minute of the half when Boston University snuck one into the left side of goal to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Terriers were able to strike first in the second half when they attacked from the right side to score and take a 2-0 lead in the 49th minute.
The RedHawks got on the board in the 62nd minute on a penalty corner attempt. Senior midfielder Carla Romagosa sent a pass over to junior back Mariona Heras. She took a shot that hit a BU player’s foot and found its way into the net. Miami pressed the rest of the way, but was unable to get the tying goal as the Terriers took the 2-1 victory.
“This weekend was another great opportunity for us,” said senior forward Geagy Pritchard. “We are always learning something about ourselves in every game, and we grew tactically and philosophically over these two contests.”
Boston University had a slight 12-8 advantage in shots and 5-4 in penalty corners. Portugal led Miami with five shots, while senior goalkeeper Alysa Xavier made four saves in net.
“With this game we concluded a great trip to New England where we able to learn a lot about ourselves,” said Puzo. “It’s important we keep looking forward for new opportunities to improve our game.”
Miami returns home on for its next game on Friday when it hosts New Hampshire at 4:30 p.m.
