Miami Kicks Off 2010 Campaign Friday

RedHawks host Alabama A&M in season opener at 5 p.m.

OXFORD, Ohio – Coming off a season that ended in the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game, the Miami women’s soccer team looks to take the next step in 2010, which begins Friday as the RedHawks host Alabama A&M in their 2010 season opener. Miami battles the Bulldogs at 5 p.m. at Miami Soccer Field.

The RedHawks return nine letterwinners and five starters from their 2009 squad that finished 12-8-1 overall and 6-4-1 in MAC play to finish sixth in the regular season. Miami got hot at the right time, however, and knocked off third-seeded Akron and second-seeded Eastern Michigan in the MAC Tournament en route to making its fifth MAC Tournament title game in program history. The ‘Hawks ultimately fell to top-seeded Central Michigan, 1-0.

Led by six seniors in 2010, Miami hopes to come out on top in the MAC Tournament this time around and earn its fourth-ever NCAA Tournament bid. The ‘Hawks were picked to win the East Division in the MAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as the league will use a divisional format for the first time in 2010.

Miami will have to replace three All-MAC performers from a year ago, including goalkeeper Krista Pace, who holds nearly every school record at her position, but return almost their entire defense, led by 2009 First-Team All-MAC performer Brooke Livingston (Lisle, Ill.) – the captain of the 2010 squad. Miami allowed just 14 goals all season a year ago, which shattered the old school record of 22 in 2002. Fellow senior sisters Jessica Byron (Elkhart, Ind.) and Rachel Byron (Elkhart, Ind.) will also help bolster the back line along with junior Courtney Clarke (Scarborough, Ont.), who is an offensive threat as well.

The RedHawks will have a good mix of youth and experience in 2010 as 14 true freshmen join the team. Louisville transfer Giselle Mangal (Mississauga, Ont.) and redshirt freshman Kelly Sullivan (Wilton, Conn.) will also help the Red and White replace some of the scoring prowess lost from a year ago, while senior forward Sara Lund (Malmo, Sweden), a two-time All-MAC performer, also returns up top after leading the team with eight goals in 2009. Fellow senior Julie Thompson (Glenview, Ill.) will also give Miami an offensive outburst, after tallying five goals as a freshman and four goals a year ago, while sophomore Jess Kodiak (Naperville, Ill.) looks for a breakout season after earning All-MAC Freshman Team honors last year.

Alabama A&M is coming off a 2-16 campaign in 2009, as the Bulldogs went 2-6 in league play to finish third in the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Alabama A&M should be improved in 2010, led by junior forward Celeste Roberts, who had six goals a year ago and was named Preseason First-Team All-SWAC. Junior defender Brittany Joseph, who had four goals and an assist in 2009, was named to the SWAC preseason second team while the Bulldogs were picked to move up to second in the Eastern Division in the 2010 SWAC preseason poll.

Friday’s meeting will be the first-ever match between Miami and Alabama A&M. Following Friday’s 5 p.m. match-up with the Bulldogs, the RedHawks will play an exhibition match against the North London Soccer Club at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22 at Miami Soccer Field. Admission is free to all home soccer games.