RedHawks Host Ball State Thursday to Round Out Regular Season

OXFORD, Ohio – Having already secured one of eight berths in the 2009 Mid-American Conference Tournament, the Miami University women’s soccer team will look to earn a higher seed than its current No. 6 position Thursday when the RedHawks welcome the Ball State Cardinals to conclude their regular-season slate. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Miami Soccer Field, where the ’Hawks are 6-2 this year.

Miami (9-7-1, 5-4-1 MAC), who can earn no worse than the No. 6 seed, could land the fifth seed with a win over Ball State and a Toledo tie or loss in its finale against Bowling Green. A Miami tie and a Toledo loss on the final day of regular-season play would also hand the ’Hawks the fifth seed thanks to the RedHawks’ win over the Rockets Oct. 2. Despite the possibility of tying Akron for fourth in the final standings, Miami is unable to earn the No. 4 seed due to the Zips holding the head-to-head tiebreaker with their win over the ’Hawks Oct. 16.

The top four seeds host the quarterfinals (opening round) of the MAC Tournament Sunday, Nov. 1, which means Miami will be on the road for Sunday’s quarterfinal match. The RedHawks could face Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Akron or Toledo in their MAC Tournament opener depending on Thursday’s results.

The Red and White sealed a spot in the MAC Tournament Sunday (Oct. 25) with its 2-0 win over Northern Illinois after suffering a disappointing 1-0 loss to Western Michigan Friday. Miami has now qualified for six straight MAC Tournaments and has missed just three in program history.

The RedHawks are scoring 1.35 goals per game, which ranks second in the league, while their 0.68 goals-against average is third. Miami has a 0.57 GAA in league play only, which is also third. Senior keeper Krista Pace (Toronto, Ont.) has played every minute in goal for Miami this year, recording six shutouts (four in MAC play), which is tied for second in the conference and is one shy of tying the single-season shutouts mark by a RedHawk (held by Katie Karlander). Pace’s 0.68 GAA currently stands as a Miami single-season record, as well. Senior Allison Berkey (Hopkinton, Mass.) and junior Sara Lund (Malmo, Sweden) are tied for the team lead and fourth in the league with five goals each, while senior Kersta Carlson (Plymouth, Minn.) ranks tied for second in the MAC with a team-best six assists.

Ball State (4-12-1, 2-7-1 MAC) makes the short trip across the Ohio-Indiana border looking to end its season on a high note. The Cardinals have already been eliminated from qualifying for the MAC Tournament and are riding a seven-game winless streak, having lost six straight before a tie with Western Michigan last Sunday. Ball State has been outscored 43-19 on the year with its 2.53 goals allowed per game ranking at the bottom of the conference. Senior Megan Ridley leads the team with five goals while junior Jackie Eft has a team-high five helpers. Freshman keeper Nicole Wood has a 2.50 GAA in 15 games in goal with a .723 save percentage and a pair of shutouts.

The Cardinals lead the all-time series with Miami, 7-4-1, having won the last three meetings and seven of the last eight. The two sides have played each other in the regular-season finale each of the last four years with BSU winning all four. Miami’s last win over Ball State was Oct. 29, 2006 in the MAC Tournament and the RedHawks haven’t beaten the Cardinals at home since 1999.

Miami’s opponent for Sunday’s MAC Tournament quarterfinal match will be announced on MURedHawks.com on Friday, once the seedings have been finalized.