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Women’s soccer set for big test vs. Chippewas

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12:28 AM Thursday, September 30, 2010

Central Michigan was the class of the Mid-American Conference last season in women’s soccer, according to Miami University coach Bobby Kramig.

But 2010 could be the year of the RedHawks.

Miami has been on a roll, winning six straight, and will test the waters of MAC excellence when the RedHawks take on the Chippewas in a home match at Miami Soccer Field on Friday at 4 p.m.

“So far, so good,” said Kramig, whose RedHawks are 9-2 overall and 2-0 in the MAC despite the fact that Miami has 16 newcomers out of 28 players, including 14 freshmen and two transfers.

“A big concern for us was how were we going to blend all these kids together,” said Kramig, who has been coaching Miami soccer for 28 years.

“We’ve really depended on our senior class to help coach these kids and get them up to speed,” he said.

Speed is the key word for this team, which also will play Eastern Michigan at home on Sunday at 1 p.m.

“It’s a hard-working group with a lot of enthusiasm and passion,” Kramig said. “And fast. We’re not always smart, but we’re fast, and if you can be only one thing, be fast.”

Miami is led by senior Brooke Livingston.

“She plays center back for us and is the heart and soul of our team, and the core of our defense,” Kramig said. “She doesn’t have bad games.”

Other key players include senior midfielder Julie Thompson, who Kramig said “has been a stalwart for us,” and freshman Katy Dolesh, who scored two goals in Miami’s 4-3 victory over Buffalo last Sunday.

“She’s been terrific,” Kramig said of Dolesh. “She’s pretty raw, but she’s got great athletic tools, is a great leaper with breakaway speed, and has a tremendous attitude.”

Dolesh is tied for the league lead with six goals, and teammate Jess Kodiak, a sophomore who also has come up big for the RedHawks, leads the MAC in total points with 18 (on five goals and eight assists.)

A dramatic OT win

The field hockey team trailed 17th-ranked Kent State 2-0 on Sunday, but rallied to win in overtime 4-3 when Emily Gruesser, a freshman from St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati, scored two minutes into the extra period on an assist from junior Amanda Seeley.

The RedHawks (6-3, 1-1 in the MAC) also got huge efforts from sophomore Olivia Miller, who scored twice to tie the contest; senior Mary Hull, whose goal gave Miami a 3-2 lead; and freshman goalkeeper Sarah Mueller, who is from Berlin, Germany, and who had six saves.

Miami is at home on Friday for a 3 p.m. game against Ball State.

Steady Sutherland

Senior Nathan Sutherland shot a 1-over-par 69-72-70—211 to tie for fourth on Tuesday at Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Invitational.

Sutherland, an NCAA qualifier last season, led Miami to a sixth-place finish out of 14 teams.

MIAMI INSIDER

PETE CONRAD

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