RedHawks Hit Road for First Time in 2010

RedHawks face Chattanooga, Western Illinois over weekend

OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University women’s soccer team will be making the first of two trips to the state of Tennessee this weekend as the RedHawks (1-0) begin a six-game road swing by competing in the Lady Govs Invitational, hosted by Austin Peay, in Clarksville. Miami battles Chattanooga on Friday at 9 p.m. ET before facing Western Illinois at noon ET on Sunday to round out invitational play. Both games are neutral site matches at APSU’s Morgan Brothers Soccer Field.

The ’Hawks kicked off their 2010 campaign in grand fashion, shattering the school record for goals in a game by knocking off Alabama A&M, 15-0, last Saturday in front of their home crowd. The 15 tallies nearly doubled the previous record of eight, which Miami had achieved three times, most recently in the 2009 regular-season finale against Ball State – an 8-0 win. The RedHawks had already broken the record at halftime, as they led 9-0.

Three ’Hawks registered hat tricks in the convincing victory, including junior midfielder Sarah Dessfelt (Vellinge, Sweden), who notched her first collegiate goal in the game and added her first career assist en route to earning co-Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. She leads the league after opening weekend with seven points. Freshmen Morgan Stallard (Tipp City, Ohio) and Sam Whitmore (Cincinnati, Ohio) each recorded hat tricks as well in their first collegiate action with all three being tied for the league lead in goals. Fellow freshman Kayla Zakrzewski (London, Ont.) set a school record and tied a MAC record with four assists in the match (all in the first half) while also tallying her first goal in the red and white against the Bulldogs.

Senior Rachelle Boff (Naples, Fla.) and freshman Madison Ryan (Marietta, Ga.) split time in net for Miami against AAMU to record the shutout, as the RedHawk defense limited the Bulldogs to just two shots on goal. Boff and Ryan, along with redshirt freshman Kris Gasparovic (Rochester, Mich.), each played 30 minutes in goal in Miami’s 1-1 exhibition draw against the North London Soccer Club on Sunday.

Chattanooga (1-1) enters the match against Miami after splitting a pair of games on its opening weekend. The Lady Mocs fell to Lipscomb, 2-1, on the road on Friday, Aug. 20 before rebounding with a 2-1 second-half comeback win over Tennessee Tech at home the following Sunday. Three different Mocs have scored for Chattanooga so far with Donna-Kay Henry notching the game-winner in the 74th minute against Tennessee Tech. She also has a team-high 11 shots and five shots on goal. Keeper Taylor Davidson has started both games and has a 1.56 goals-against average on the young season.

Friday night’s contest will be the first ever between the RedHawks and Lady Mocs.

Western Illinois (0-0-1) began its 2010 campaign Sunday with a 1-1 draw at home against South Dakota as Jenny Green knotted the game for the Fighting Leathernecks late in the first half. WIU fell to MAC foe Northern Illinois, 2-1, in an exhibition game on Friday, Aug. 20. Western Illinois will face tournament host Austin Peay Friday before taking on Miami Sunday.

The two sides have met twice previously with the RedHawks winning both meetings. Miami won 6-0 in 1997, the RedHawks’ inaugural season, and 2-0 in 1999, but the two teams haven’t faced off since.

Live stats will be available for both of Miami’s matches this weekend here.

Following the Lady Govs Invitational, the RedHawks remain on the road with contests at Butler Friday, Sep. 3 and at DePaul, Sunday, Sept. 5.