The Miami University soccer team entered the weekend needing valuable points to stay in the hunt for a MAC tournament appearance.

Playing in its last home series of the season, with only three games left, the RedHawks were on the postseason bubble facing two teams in similar positions. Friday, both Miami and the University of Akron took the field with only two conference wins apiece. Sunday, arch rival Ohio University (OU) visited Oxford, a team with only one MAC win to their name.

Against Akron it was a story of two goalkeepers. Miami's Krista Pace made the saves when it counted, often resorting to the spectacular in order to keep the ball out of the net. On the other end, RedHawks Sara Lund and Jackie Hardek each beat the Akron's Jenn Wolbert to seal the win.

It was an inspired effort from an inspired team.

"I felt coming into this game that the most important thing was that we get ahead by scoring first," coach Bobby Kramig said. "We didn't want to give them any hope. I thought we looked really impressive in the first half as we were able to capitalize on several opportunities and build up that 2-0 lead. We were pretty flat in the second half but we got the win."

The 'Hawks and Zips exchanged first half punches as both teams tested each other fairly early. However, senior Stephanie Wilson blasted a shot which was blocked by an Akron defender. Freshman Sara Lund immediately raced to the ball to regain possession and swiftly drove by Wolbert for an easy tap in. The goal ignited the team as 10 minutes later it was senior Jackie Hardek who scored on a cross from sophomore Jodi Zwingelberg with a header into the right corner of the net to give the 'Hawks a commanding 2-0 lead.

With the 'Hawks leading in the second half, Akron came out fast and furiously, hoping to test goalkeeper Krista Pace. Pace was resilient as she faced shots from all angles and was able to prevent Akron from breaking through. One particular save in the 58th minute stirred a boisterous response from the crowd as she dove to block the ball away with her fingertips. The ball proceeded to move parallel to the goal line before Pace snatched it up before it could hit an errant blade of grass.

"We knew what we had to do today and I got some good help from my defense," Pace said. "They know my job is to keep the ball out of the net and when we do our jobs everyone's happy."

The win marked Miami's third consecutive home victory in a conference match. Two days later, the RedHawks played for even bigger stakes against a rival battling them for postseason position.

"Sunday is our last home game for the season and our senior class, so we want to send them off right," Kramig said. "We know we need to beat OU to get into the tourney, we need home points and this will be a gigantic test."

OU rained on the seniors' parade, downing the 'Hawks 4-1. The Bobcats scored in the opening minute of the game and never looked back after that. Lund scored Miami's lone goal, finding the back of the net for the second consecutive game. The loss dropped Miami to eighth place in the MAC at 3-5 with five four-win teams just ahead of them.

Up next for the 'Hawks is a three-game road trip, starting with Northern Illinois University Friday.