Kodiak Earns MAC Offensive Player of the Week

Junior from Naperville, Ill. is second straight RedHawk to win award

CLEVELAND – For the second straight week, a member of the Miami University women’s soccer team has been named Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week, as junior Jess Kodiak captured the honor Monday, the league office announced. Sophomore Katy Dolesh won co-MAC Offensive Player of the Week last week.

Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) recorded two goals Friday in Miami’s 3-0 win over Northern Illinois, which was the RedHawks’ third straight victory. Her goals were the first two of the game against NIU, giving her the game-winning goal, her second of the year. It was just her second career multi-goal game, also notching two goals Sept. 16 at Evansville earlier this season. She scored her goals on her only two shots on goal of the match. Sunday against Western Michigan, Kodiak fired three shots, including one on goal, while playing all 90 minutes.

Kodiak leads the MAC with 22 points and nine goals on the season with four of her goals coming in league play. She is also tied for the team lead with four assists, which ties for ninth in the MAC, while starting all 17 games on the year.

The weekly award is the second of Kodiak’s career, also winning MAC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 13 last year. Miami has now won three MAC weekly awards this year with Dolesh winning Offensive Player of the Week last week (Oct. 17) and Aug. 22.

Miami looks to clinch a berth in the upcoming MAC Tournament Thursday when the RedHawks round out the regular season by hosting Bowling Green. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Miami Soccer Field.

Miami Falls to WMU, 2-0

RedHawks outshoot Broncos, 23-11, despite the loss

OXFORD, Ohio – Despite creating several good scoring opportunities and outshooting Western Michigan, the Miami University women’s soccer team was unable to solve Bronco keeper Michelle Watson as WMU used a pair of first-half goals to earn a 2-0 win Sunday afternoon at Miami Soccer Field. Sunday was also Miami’s Think Pink game for breast cancer awareness, as the team donned pink jerseys, socks and shoelaces and sold t-shirts to help raise money.

With the loss, the RedHawks (9-8-0, 4-6-0 Mid-American Conference) saw their three-game winning streak snapped and now sit in the eighth and final spot for the upcoming MAC Tournament with one game remaining. Western Michigan (11-7-0, 7-3-0 MAC), meanwhile, won its fourth straight game in the process.

Miami finished with a 23-11 edge in shots but Watson stopped all nine shots on goal to pitch her ninth shutout of the year. The ‘Hawks were blanked for the fourth time this season. Sophomore Katy Dolesh (South Euclid, Ohio) had a great chance to put Miami up early, as she had a point-blank shot in front of the net in the sixth minute but Watson got her body in front of it for the save.

The Broncos then grabbed the lead in the eighth minute on a goal by Nikolette Rivera. Anina Cicerone fired a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that was blocked by a Miami defender but the rebound went right to Rivera, who ripped a laser into the upper left-hand corner of the goal from 25 yards out, putting WMU on top, 1-0.

The RedHawks kept up the attacking pressure though, earning a pair of corner kicks, the second of which nearly resulted in the equalizer. In the 13th minute, freshman Kelsey Dinges (Smithton, Ill.) sent in a cross right to Dolesh, who headed the ball down to the near post but Watson sprawled out to make a stabbing leg save. Sophomore Kayla Zakrzewski (London, Ont.) then had a good crack at goal in the 21st minute but it hit the crossbar.

WMU tacked on its second goal in the 26th minute when Cicerone found the back of the net for the eighth time this year. Stephanie Skowneski played the ball to Cicerone on the left flank where she dribbled into the 18-yard box and let an arcing shot go that sailed into the far corner of the net over the head of redshirt freshman goalkeeper Allison Norenberg (Palatine, Ill.), making the score 2-0 at halftime.

Miami would not go quietly in the second half, controlling much of the play, including a 15-3 advantage in shots and a 3-1 edge in corner kicks. In the 74th minute, Dolesh nearly completed a spectacular goal, trying to finish a cross from senior Giselle Mangal (Mississauga, Ont.) with a sideways bicycle kick, but the ball just went over the crossbar. Watson again robbed Dolesh in the closing seconds, getting a hand on a shot with Dolesh on a breakaway, as she made her fifth save of the half to close out the 2-0 Bronco victory.

“We did have a lot of chances. I wasn’t real thrilled with our first half. I thought our midfield was a bit disorganized and certainly you have to give credit to Western Michigan. That first goal was a heck of a strike,” head coach Bobby Kramig said. “We played reasonably well and our kids responded positively in the second half. We were a bit unlucky some of our shots didn’t go in but they’re not going to go in themselves; somebody’s got to put them in.”

The ‘Hawks ended with a 7-6 edge in corner kicks but were also whistled for offsides three times. Dolesh led Miami with six shots, including four on goal, while Dinges, Mangal and junior Jess Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) each had three shots. Norenberg finished with two saves in net for the RedHawks.

Miami still controls its own destiny to get in the MAC Tournament, which starts Sunday, Oct. 30, but needs to beat Bowling Green to assure itself of a berth. The RedHawks host the Falcons Thursday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. at Miami Soccer Field. Miami is just one point ahead of Akron, who rests in ninth place, and could still get in with a tie depending on other results, while a win would put the ‘Hawks anywhere from eighth to fifth in the standings.

“It’s a must win. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the pressure so bring it on and let’s see what happens,” Kramig said.

Miami Tops NIU for Third Straight Win

RedHawks win 3-0 as Kodiak scores twice

OXFORD, Ohio–Junior Jess Kodiak scored twice to lead the Miami women’s soccer team to a 3-0 win over Northern Illinois Friday afternoon at the Miami Soccer Field. The RedHawks’ record moves to 9-7-0 overall and 4-5-0 in the Mid-American Conference with their third-straight win while the Huskies fall to 2-13-2 overall and 1-8-0 in the MAC.

“I think it says a lot about the character of this team, that they’re able to withstand a tough spell,” head coach Bobby Kramig said. “We lost five in a row, and I know an awful lot of teams that would just fold up the tent and go home after that. But these kids have shown great character, we’ve had great leadership and I’m really proud of them. We’re playing the best soccer of the year at the best time of the year.”

Miami jumped out to the early 1-0 lead when Kodiak fired her first shot of the game into the top left corner at the start of the sixth minute for her team-leading eighth goal of the season. Kodiak, with her back to the goal and a defender directly behind her at top of the six-yard box, took a pass from senior Giselle Mangal, turned around her defender sent a shot past Northern Illinois goalkeeper Amy Carr.

“I saw [Mangal] and cut in and called for it,” Kodiak said. “She gave me a really good ball and when I turned, it just fell to my left foot perfectly. It was a nice opportunity, so I took it.”

Throughout the rest of the first half, the RedHawks created scoring chances, forcing Carr to make four before halftime. On the defensive end, the Red and White limited the Huskies to six shots, with only three on goal that Miami keeper Allison Norenberg was able to stop to keep Miami in front 1-0 at the half.

The RedHawks picked up the pace in the second half when Kodiak again found the back of the net for the ninth time this season, this time in the 51st minute. She took a pass from freshman Hailey Pleshakov and sent a high, arcing shot from the left side over Carr and into the right side of the goal for a 2-0 Miami lead. It was Kodiak’s second career multi-goal game, both coming this season.

“Jess is really starting to find her rhythm,” Kramig said. “She’s been playing well all year, the goals just weren’t coming for her. You can see that changing now as her confidence is building. She’s such a composed player.”

Sophomore Katy Dolesh added to the lead less than two minutes later when she took over at the top of the 18-yard box and dribbled around the defense to the left side where she sent a left-footed shot into the right side of the net to conclude the scoring and give Miami the 3-0 lead. Dolesh has now scored in three straight games.

The RedHawk defense stifled the Huskies in the second half, holding them two just two shots and only one on goal, which Norenberg stopped to preserve her fourth shutout of the season and second straight.

“Two shutouts in a row, I’m very proud of Allison,” Kramig said of his keeper. “I thought she did well. I’m very pleased with Allison and really our entire back four who’ve really come together these last three games.”

With the win, Miami kept pace in the crowded MAC East standings with just two games left in the season.

“We told our kids before this game that today was the most important game of the year and now Sunday becomes the most important game of the year,” Kramig said. “When you get down to the last couple games in this conference, everything gets very tight. You just have to keep your composure, stay on task and play one game at a time.”

The RedHawks return to action Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Miami Soccer Field as they take on Western Michigan.

Miami Hosts NIU, WMU in Key MAC Battles

Sunday’s game with the Broncos will be Breast Cancer Awareness Day

OXFORD, Ohio – With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Miami University women’s soccer team makes a final push to earn a berth in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament beginning this weekend when the RedHawks begin a three-game home stand. Miami hosts Northern Illinois Friday at 3 p.m. before welcoming Western Michigan Sunday at 1 p.m., which will serve as the RedHawks’ breast cancer awareness game.

As part of Sunday’s Think Pink game, Miami will don pink jerseys to help promote breast cancer awareness. T-shirts supporting breast cancer awareness will be sold at the game while donations to help breast cancer research will also be accepted.

Miami (8-7-0, 3-5-0 MAC) enters the weekend in a tie for the eighth and final spot in the MAC Tournament along with Buffalo, as both teams have nine points, but UB holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. The ‘Hawks sit just four points out of first place in the East Division however, as Ohio is first with 13 points, followed by Kent State with 12 and Akron with 11 – all three of which Miami has beaten. The top four teams overall reside in the West Division, led by Toledo with 22 points while Ball State is fourth with 14 points.

The RedHawks are coming off a two-win weekend on the road, downing the Bobcats, 2-1, in double overtime in dramatic fashion last Friday. Junior Jess Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) scored with 10 seconds remaining in regulation to force the extra session while sophomore Katy Dolesh (South Euclid, Ohio) tallied the game winner giving Miami a third straight overtime win over Ohio. The ‘Hawks then scored three second-half goals to top the Zips, 3-0, on Sunday. Dolesh was named MAC co-Offensive Player of the Week after tallying a goal in each game.

On the year, Kodiak leads Miami with 18 points, which is tied for third in the MAC, while her seven goals tie for second in the league. She also has a team-best four assists. Sophomore Kayla Zakrzewski (London, Ont.) is second on the team with 16 points and also has seven goals while Dolesh has totaled 13 points and six goals. Senior Giselle Mangal (Mississauga, Ont.) and freshman Hailey Pleshakov (Brighton, Mich.) each have three assists for Miami as well. As a team, the RedHawks lead the MAC averaging 1.80 goals per game but are tied for fifth in league play with 1.12 goals per game.

On defense, Miami has a 1.30 goals-against average, which ranks seventh in the MAC, and a 1.33 GAA in league play, which is eighth. Redshirt freshman Allison Norenberg (Palatine, Ill.) has played every minute in net for the RedHawks, compiling a .730 save percentage with three shutouts.

Northern Illinois (2-12-2, 1-7-0 MAC) comes to Oxford in last place in the MAC with just three points while riding a three-game losing streak. NIU’s lone wins on the year came over Loyola (Ill.) and at Buffalo Oct. 7. The Huskies are averaging just 0.44 goals per game and have just seven on the year, including four in league play, all of which rank last in the MAC. Frances Boukidis leads NIU with seven points on two goals and three helpers. Defensively, the Huskies have a 1.63 goals-against average, which is 10th in the MAC, but a 1.49 GAA in league play (11th). Amy Carr has seen most of the time in goal for NIU, posting a 1.53 GAA with a .729 save percentage and two clean sheets.

Miami is 9-4-1 all-time against Northern Illinois. The RedHawks have won three of the last four meetings but NIU won in DeKalb last year.

Western Michigan (9-7-0, 5-3-0 MAC), who plays Bowling Green Friday before heading to Oxford, is in third in the MAC with 15 points after beating Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan last weekend, with the win over the Eagles coming in overtime. Stephanie Skowneski leads WMU on offense with 19 points on six goals and seven assists, with the 19 points and seven helpers tying for the MAC lead. Anina Cicerone has a team-best seven goals, which ties for second in the league. As a team, WMU is fifth in the league averaging 1.50 goals per game but rank second in MAC play with a 1.62 gpg average. The Broncos are also fifth with a 1.16 GAA overall and sixth with a 1.09 GAA in conference games. Keeper Michelle Watson has started 15 games in net for WMU and has a 1.15 GAA with a .790 save percentage and seven shutouts, which are second-most in the MAC.

The RedHawks are 12-2-1 all-time against Western Michigan but tied the Broncos in Kalamazoo last year and lost to WMU in Oxford in 2009.

Live stats for both games will be available via Gametracker on MURedHawks.com. Sunday’s game with WMU will also be streamed live through Miami’s All-Access subscription package. Following this weekend, Miami wraps up regular-season play by hosting Bowling Green on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m.

Dolesh Tabbed MAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Sophomore from South Euclid, Ohio earns honor for second time this year

CLEVELAND – Miami University sophomore forward Katy Dolesh has been named co-Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. She shared the award with Western Michigan’s Brittany Pavlica.

Dolesh scored two goals on the weekend to lead Miami to two wins. On Friday, she scored Miami’s game-winning goal in double overtime in the 107th minute to give the RedHawks a 2-1 win at Ohio, Miami’s third straight overtime win over Ohio. It also snapped a five-game losing streak for the RedHawks. On Sunday, she netted Miami’s third goal in a 3-0 victory over then-MAC East leading Akron. She played every minute of both games for a total of 196 minutes on the weekend while compiling four points on six shots, all of which were on goal.

The honor is the second of her career, also receiving MAC Offensive Player of the Week after the opening week of the season on Aug. 22. She had three goals and an assist in two games opening weekend.

Dolesh, a Second-Team All-MAC performer as a freshman, is third on the team with six goals and also has an assist for 13 points on the year. She has played and started 13 games this season.

Miami makes a push for the MAC Tournament this weekend when the RedHawks host Northern Illinois Friday at 3 p.m. before welcoming Western Michigan Sunday at 1 p.m.