Spring Break
RedHawks fall back into action
Dan Kukla
Issue date: 8/26/08 Section: Sports
In the fall of 2007, the RedHawks won a MAC championship in volleyball and played in title games in football and field hockey. In an effort to foresee whether the 'Hawks will have a repeat performance or do even better in 2008, The Student has compiled a breakdown of each team competing in the fall.
Football
For the first time in NCAA history, three linebackers from the same team appear on the Butkus Award's preseason watch list. That school is Miami University.
The Butkus Award is given to the best linebacker in college football, and all three of Miami's starting linebackers (Clayton Mullins, Joey Hudson and Caleb Bostic) are on that list.
"Defensively I think we have the capability of having not only one of the top defenses in the MAC but a defense that is ranked nationally," head coach Shane Montgomery said. "You've got three all-MAC type players that you can build your defense around."
On offense, it is much more of a guessing game as to what will be seen from the 'Hawks in '08. Montgomery is satisfied with his starting five linemen, but wishes there was more depth at that position.
A similar story can be told for the backfield, where junior Andre
Bratton and sophomore Thomas Merriweather are the only returning players with any experience at that position. Junior Daniel Raudabaugh is another player on offense Montgomery highlighted. He said he would like to see more production out of the quarterback position.
In the MAC preseason media poll, every team from the East division received at least two first place votes. Miami received seven of the 36 and came in at second overall behind Bowling Green State University.
The RedHawks open the season at home against Vanderbilt University Aug. 28, marking the first time an SEC (Southeastern Conference) opponent visits Oxford.
In 2007, Miami held a three-point lead in the third quarter against the Commodores, but fell to defeat after succeeding two late touchdowns.
Montgomery said he believes his 'Hawks match up well with this SEC opponent. Vanderbilt lost all five starting offensive linemen and the leading wide receiver and looks to be somewhat inexperienced.
"We've got to come out and develop an identity early," Montgomery said. "When you play a team from the SEC, they're going to be a physical football team. It means they're going to be very well coached. We've got to make sure we get out to a great start."
Volleyball
2007's MAC championship team returns 11 letter winners from 2007. It is a talented and accomplished bunch, featuring reigning MAC Coach of the Year Carolyn Condit, 2007 MAC Freshman of the Year Michele Metzler, two-time all-MAC performer Emily Schroeder and 2007 First-Team All-MAC selection Megan Griffin.
Defending the title will not be easy, though. By design, the RedHawks will play a grueling non-conference schedule before entering into MAC play and is marked as the team to beat.
"Each year I intentionally design our pre-MAC competitive schedule to test our athletes in every way possible to better position Miami to earn regional and national recognition, while fully preparing ourselves for the top competition we will contend with weekly in our conference race," Condit said. "We have an opportunity this fall to face new opponents from out of the region for the first time and to defeat other good teams within our region who were highly ranked in 2007."
The 'Hawks start their season at home Aug. 28-29 with a weekend series against St. Louis University.
Field Hockey
Up 2-0 at half time of the 2007 MAC championship game, the RedHawks were in line to knock off the nationally ranked Ohio Bobcats and take home the title. Playing in front of a home crowd with all the momentum, Miami was ready to dance.
Unfortunately midnight struck a moment too soon for this Cinderella team. Its arch nemesis, the ugly older sister of this story, scored two goals in the second half and then went on to win in overtime.
"It was a heartbreaker," head coach Jill Reeve said. "The girls really felt that the game was in their hands. This year, the motivating piece would be to leave nothing to chance."
MAC coaches picked Miami to finish second in the conference this year. After losing a large and talented group of seniors, however, it certainly won't be easy for the 'Hawks to get back to the championship game.
Miami hired a new assistant head coach, Lindsay Markwart, in the off-season. Markwart specializes in goalkeeping and has worked with the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University.
"I think that has been an area of concern, legitimately," Reeve said. "With her help and guidance, that position in particular is going to get the attention it needs."
The RedHawks will be led by its two senior captains, Elizabeth Gilroy and Danielle Gaynor. Reeve sees leadership as a strength on this team and looks forward to seeing just what they are capable of accomplishing.
"The team has a great competitive attitude," Reeve said. "They want to be great and that is exciting for me. I love working with people of that kind of ambition."
Women's Soccer
This year, head coach Bobby Kramig is keeping his goal for the team simple: always play hard.
"Too many people focus on results and not enough people focus on what needs to be done to get there," Kramig said. "We want work as hard as we possibly can in every single game that we play. These are the things that need to be in place before we can even discuss what outcome we want to achieve."
Keeping with Miami soccer tradition, the RedHawks face an intense non-conference schedule. They will take the field against four teams from major conferences; Big Ten opponent University of Michigan will visit Oxford in late October and from the Big East Miami will see the University of Cincinnati, Depaul University and the University of Louisville.
Sophomore forward Sara Lund looks to lead the Red and White on offense, as she posted team highs in goals (7), assists (5) and points (14) last year as a freshman.
In the MAC preseason coaches' poll, the RedHawks are picked to finish in fourth place. However, Kramig feels that the conference is "crazy competitive" as it is incredibly balanced from top to bottom. Thus, he says it is meaningless to worry about other teams and how they stack up.
"We try to keep the focus on ourselves," Kramig said. "We can only control our own effort and our own attitude."
Cross Country
The returning eight of the nine runners who raced at the 2007 MAC championships are producing big talk from the conference's second place team.
"I think this year we will be knocking on the door to get into the national rankings," Miami men's cross country head coach Warren Mandrell said. "Hopefully (we will) have a chance to run in the national tournament."
Not only are the RedHawks deep this year, they have star power as well. Senior Pat Sovacool, who Sports Illustrated featured in its "Faces in the Crowd" section, individually qualified for last year's NCAA championship race and was a first team all-MAC selection.
"He gives us a guy in the Red and White that's out there with the leaders and all his teammates can see him out there," Mandrell said. "He's a very good leader and has run well in big meets ever since he was a freshman."
On the women's team, newly appointed head coach Rita Arndt-Molis looks to establish a new culture of winning. She is a former associate head coach from Michigan State University, and recently helped lead the Spartans to a fifth place finish at the national championships in 2007.
"I'm coming from a pretty competitive program," Ardnt-Molis said. "Really I'm just looking to creating that culture here at Miami."
Still trying to fully settle into her new job, she does not expect to experience any setbacks with the team because of her late arrival.
"People are thrown challenges and bad timing everyday, and the thing that you find is that champions find a way to make it happen," Arndt-Molis said. "Timing is not going to preclude us from trying to be the best."
Football
For the first time in NCAA history, three linebackers from the same team appear on the Butkus Award's preseason watch list. That school is Miami University.
The Butkus Award is given to the best linebacker in college football, and all three of Miami's starting linebackers (Clayton Mullins, Joey Hudson and Caleb Bostic) are on that list.
"Defensively I think we have the capability of having not only one of the top defenses in the MAC but a defense that is ranked nationally," head coach Shane Montgomery said. "You've got three all-MAC type players that you can build your defense around."
On offense, it is much more of a guessing game as to what will be seen from the 'Hawks in '08. Montgomery is satisfied with his starting five linemen, but wishes there was more depth at that position.
A similar story can be told for the backfield, where junior Andre
Bratton and sophomore Thomas Merriweather are the only returning players with any experience at that position. Junior Daniel Raudabaugh is another player on offense Montgomery highlighted. He said he would like to see more production out of the quarterback position.
In the MAC preseason media poll, every team from the East division received at least two first place votes. Miami received seven of the 36 and came in at second overall behind Bowling Green State University.
The RedHawks open the season at home against Vanderbilt University Aug. 28, marking the first time an SEC (Southeastern Conference) opponent visits Oxford.
In 2007, Miami held a three-point lead in the third quarter against the Commodores, but fell to defeat after succeeding two late touchdowns.
Montgomery said he believes his 'Hawks match up well with this SEC opponent. Vanderbilt lost all five starting offensive linemen and the leading wide receiver and looks to be somewhat inexperienced.
"We've got to come out and develop an identity early," Montgomery said. "When you play a team from the SEC, they're going to be a physical football team. It means they're going to be very well coached. We've got to make sure we get out to a great start."
Volleyball
2007's MAC championship team returns 11 letter winners from 2007. It is a talented and accomplished bunch, featuring reigning MAC Coach of the Year Carolyn Condit, 2007 MAC Freshman of the Year Michele Metzler, two-time all-MAC performer Emily Schroeder and 2007 First-Team All-MAC selection Megan Griffin.
Defending the title will not be easy, though. By design, the RedHawks will play a grueling non-conference schedule before entering into MAC play and is marked as the team to beat.
"Each year I intentionally design our pre-MAC competitive schedule to test our athletes in every way possible to better position Miami to earn regional and national recognition, while fully preparing ourselves for the top competition we will contend with weekly in our conference race," Condit said. "We have an opportunity this fall to face new opponents from out of the region for the first time and to defeat other good teams within our region who were highly ranked in 2007."
The 'Hawks start their season at home Aug. 28-29 with a weekend series against St. Louis University.
Field Hockey
Up 2-0 at half time of the 2007 MAC championship game, the RedHawks were in line to knock off the nationally ranked Ohio Bobcats and take home the title. Playing in front of a home crowd with all the momentum, Miami was ready to dance.
Unfortunately midnight struck a moment too soon for this Cinderella team. Its arch nemesis, the ugly older sister of this story, scored two goals in the second half and then went on to win in overtime.
"It was a heartbreaker," head coach Jill Reeve said. "The girls really felt that the game was in their hands. This year, the motivating piece would be to leave nothing to chance."
MAC coaches picked Miami to finish second in the conference this year. After losing a large and talented group of seniors, however, it certainly won't be easy for the 'Hawks to get back to the championship game.
Miami hired a new assistant head coach, Lindsay Markwart, in the off-season. Markwart specializes in goalkeeping and has worked with the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University.
"I think that has been an area of concern, legitimately," Reeve said. "With her help and guidance, that position in particular is going to get the attention it needs."
The RedHawks will be led by its two senior captains, Elizabeth Gilroy and Danielle Gaynor. Reeve sees leadership as a strength on this team and looks forward to seeing just what they are capable of accomplishing.
"The team has a great competitive attitude," Reeve said. "They want to be great and that is exciting for me. I love working with people of that kind of ambition."
Women's Soccer
This year, head coach Bobby Kramig is keeping his goal for the team simple: always play hard.
"Too many people focus on results and not enough people focus on what needs to be done to get there," Kramig said. "We want work as hard as we possibly can in every single game that we play. These are the things that need to be in place before we can even discuss what outcome we want to achieve."
Keeping with Miami soccer tradition, the RedHawks face an intense non-conference schedule. They will take the field against four teams from major conferences; Big Ten opponent University of Michigan will visit Oxford in late October and from the Big East Miami will see the University of Cincinnati, Depaul University and the University of Louisville.
Sophomore forward Sara Lund looks to lead the Red and White on offense, as she posted team highs in goals (7), assists (5) and points (14) last year as a freshman.
In the MAC preseason coaches' poll, the RedHawks are picked to finish in fourth place. However, Kramig feels that the conference is "crazy competitive" as it is incredibly balanced from top to bottom. Thus, he says it is meaningless to worry about other teams and how they stack up.
"We try to keep the focus on ourselves," Kramig said. "We can only control our own effort and our own attitude."
Cross Country
The returning eight of the nine runners who raced at the 2007 MAC championships are producing big talk from the conference's second place team.
"I think this year we will be knocking on the door to get into the national rankings," Miami men's cross country head coach Warren Mandrell said. "Hopefully (we will) have a chance to run in the national tournament."
Not only are the RedHawks deep this year, they have star power as well. Senior Pat Sovacool, who Sports Illustrated featured in its "Faces in the Crowd" section, individually qualified for last year's NCAA championship race and was a first team all-MAC selection.
"He gives us a guy in the Red and White that's out there with the leaders and all his teammates can see him out there," Mandrell said. "He's a very good leader and has run well in big meets ever since he was a freshman."
On the women's team, newly appointed head coach Rita Arndt-Molis looks to establish a new culture of winning. She is a former associate head coach from Michigan State University, and recently helped lead the Spartans to a fifth place finish at the national championships in 2007.
"I'm coming from a pretty competitive program," Ardnt-Molis said. "Really I'm just looking to creating that culture here at Miami."
Still trying to fully settle into her new job, she does not expect to experience any setbacks with the team because of her late arrival.
"People are thrown challenges and bad timing everyday, and the thing that you find is that champions find a way to make it happen," Arndt-Molis said. "Timing is not going to preclude us from trying to be the best."
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