Miami Takes Down UC Davis
Saturday’s Scoreboard
Miami 2, UC Davis 0
Ball State 1, Dartmouth 5
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Miami 2, UC Davis 0
Box Score
DAVIS, Calif. – The Miami University field hockey team beat UC Davis by a 2-0 margin on Saturday. The RedHawks improve to a 3-1 record on the season. The Golden Bears drop to a 2-2 record.
"We didn't start the game the way we wanted to," said senior Kendall Hunker. "We were able to pick it up in the second half and learn from our mistakes and it showed on the scoreboard."
"We were able to step up although our legs were tired," said senior Estel Roig. "We didn't run out of gas like we might have in previous games. Also since we have another game in 24 hours we have to start thinking about all those things we can do to recover so we can be ready tomorrow."
Despite recording nine shots from five different players in the first half, the two teams remained scoreless at halftime. The Miami defensive front limited the Golden Bears' offense to just one shot and two penalty corners in the first half.
Paula Portugal broke the scoreless tie in the 42nd minute of play with her fourth goal of the season. Portugal took it into the circle on her own and beat UC Davis goalkeeper Chelsea Bigelow to give the RedHawks the 1-0 lead.
Lexie Nugent added to Miami's lead just five minutes later with her second goal of the season.
The RedHawks maintained pressure during the final 23 minutes of the game, earning four more penalty corners and taking four more shots.
Miami's defense was even more impressive in the second half, allowing just one shot and holding UC Davis to no penalty corners.
The RedHawks' offense put up 20 shots and earned eight penalty corners, compared to two shots and two penalty corners from UC Davis.
Portugal led both teams with nine shots. Leonor Berlie took five. Maddie Passarella recorded one save to earn her second shutout of the season.
Miami finishes its California trip with a 5 p.m. ET game at California on Sunday.
Ball State 1, Dartmouth 5
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Ball State field hockey team (0-3) fell 5-1 in the program's first-ever meeting to Dartmouth (1-1) Saturday afternoon at a neutral site on the campus of Big Ten foe Iowa. Sophomore Abby Ferenczy scored the lone goal for the Cardinals unassisted.
"I love the adversity that our team is facing right now," Ball State head field hockey coach Stephanie Bernthal said. "Winning games can mask so many things that lie under the surface for a team. What I'm pleased with is that the team continues to be unsatisfied with where we are at currently this season. As a team we play to win but they also understand that there are gains occurring that will sustain our program far beyond one game result. We are building toward championships, but it starts with little moments. As we become more consistent in the small details and moments, those add up to big things. This team is being refined and tested right now, and we wouldn't have it any other way. We need these challenges in order to get where we want to be."
Redshirt junior Michelle Shampton led the Cardinals with two shots on the day while Ferenczy and freshman Grace Bolesta each recorded one apiece.
The Cardinals first got on the board at the 2:37 mark with Ferenczy's early goal but Dartmouth quickly answered with scores from Katie Persin and Kira Koehler to put Dartmouth up 2-1 at the half. After intermission, Dartmouth would strike three more times before the end of regulation.
Defensively, sophomore Grace Chavez tallied five saves to Iowa's three and has played the entire 70 minutes in all three of the Cardinals' contests this season. Chavez now has totaled 16 saves so far this year for Ball State.
The Ball State field hockey team continues play in Iowa City, Iowa Sunday when it faces the Iowa Hawkeyes at 2:30 p.m. (ET).
After this weekend, Ball State will continue its four-game road swing when the Cardinals travel to Columbus, Ohio, to play Big Ten foe Ohio State (Sept. 7) at 4 p.m. and then Lehigh (Sept. 8) beginning at noon. Ball State will return to the Briner Sports Complex Sept. 15 when it hosts Miami University in its Mid-American Conference opener at noon.
