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The bus will be gassed up to travel south for the final time this season when it delivers the high-flying Miami University soccer team (2-1) to Morehead, Ky., at 7 p.m. Friday. Waiting for the Red and White will be a team dressed in Blue and White, the Morehead State University Eagles (2-4).
Coach Bobby Kramig's team is coming off of two quality victories, in consecutive Sundays, against the likes of Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Illinois. The key to the victories has been a solid defense that has not allowed many shots to get to goalkeeper Krista Pace.
"We've been passing and moving around really well," Pace said. "Our defense has been really solid since the spring, so we carried that over to the fall. We've been making really good runs and just playing simple. Making the other team run around more than we have to. We just play simple and at our own pace. My really, really solid defense has been the key for me this year. They've been talking a lot better and getting organized so there isn't really much for me to do. That's kind of a nice break over the past two years."
The "solid" defense that Pace is referring to has only allowed one goal for the last three contests.
Even though the game is rapidly approaching on the calendar, many of Kramig's players remain unfazed. The coach has instilled a new system, and along with that a new attitude. Assistant Coach Nate Lie verbalized the melody that the players are marching to.
"The first thing we tell the girls is our theme," Lie said. "Everything depends on us. We control our own destiny. We tell them not to focus on their opponent so we're not going to do that overly. That being said, Morehead is a team that has had decent success this year. They play on a small turf field and it's going to be the first turf field that we have played on. They play with a lot of effort and enthusiasm. They went to the NCAA tournament last year and won their conference. Individually they have a few people to watch out for."
A few of these players include sophomore forwards Jillian Birchmeier and Devan Jordan. The attacking shooters have combined for eight goals in four games of action. Miami's defensive scheme will definitely be tested and "dependence on each other" will be essential for the RedHawks.
"To beat Morehead we have to put the ball in the back of the net," Pace said. "We need to do all of the simple things like balls to feet, keeping it on the ground and passing well, switching and staying tight in the back. Pretty much everything we've done well in the past few games we need to do again."
If the hometown 'Hawks can hold on for another victory it will make for an exciting home stand. After attempting to ground the Eagles, they will be granted three straight home games before kicking into conference play.
