The Miami University field hockey team will travel to Springfield, Mo. to continue its conference season against the Missouri State University (MSU) Bears Oct. 24.

The RedHawks are familiar with the Bears' playing style because this will be the second time this season Miami has matched up against MSU. Previously this season, the 'Hawks dominated the field offensively and defensively against the Bears, earning a 3-0 shutout win.

Head Coach Jill Reeve sees the advantages of playing a familiar team.

"There are some advantages due to the fact that the mystery factor is no longer there," Reeve said. "Players know what to expect and can play their personal game to counter that particular team's style of play."

While the 'Hawks are confident about their upcoming game against MSU, they do not underestimate the Bears' capabilities. As Miami hosted the first contest between the two teams, the second game will be in Springfield, giving the Bears the home edge this time around.

Reeve anticipates some challenges and differences because the match will be played away.

"This will be a challenging match as the surface that we play on, which is the NCAA compliant and one of the best facilities in the country, is not one Missouri has to offer," Reeve said. "The surface will affect how we approach the surface physically and mentally. It's a terrific opportunity to see how we will adapt as a team."

This is not the first time the team has had to deal with unfamiliar turf. Freshman Sarah Mueller remembers the challenges the team faced while playing on Ball State University's field.

"Everything was really shaky and we had to make a lot of adjustments to get used to the turf," Mueller said. "Theirs was a lot drier and bumpier than ours."

The Bears currently hold a 4-11 record on the season. MSU lost many of its matches to teams Miami defeated previously this season, including University of California Davis, University of the Pacific and Kent State University.

The Red and White currently hold a 10-6 record in 2010 and are tied for first with Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference. A win against the Bears will keep the RedHawks right where they want to be, at the top of the conference.