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RedHawks ready for home series

By Jordan Rinard, Senior Staff Writer

After opening its season with a two-game annihilation of Lindenwood University, the Miami University women's hockey team (2-0) continues its home stand this weekend against Midland University.

"We did well last weekend," sophomore forward Cassidy Guthrie said. "We were a little sloppy and need to improve our chemistry. We're really excited for the weekend. We're working on getting used to our lines and improving our communication; there's some room to improve and we'll be tough to stop if we do. [Midland is] a new team, so we don't know what to expect so we have to play our best and work on our system and improve."

Miami had plenty of production from the right wing in the first two games as sophomore Rachael Booth, Guthrie and sophomore Kaley Mooney have accounted for 11 goals and eight assists. The centers for the 'Hawks have contributed as well as junior Hayley Williams, sophomore Katie Augustine and freshman Kathleen Baldwin tallied six goals and four assists.

The Red and White also had scoring from their newcomers as freshmen forwards Alyssa Visalli, Katie Baldwin and Carly Noble recorded their first goals for the program.

The defensive tandem of freshman Becca Senden and junior Morgan McGrath also found ways to contribute to their offense as they each have registered three assists on the season. Goaltenders sophomore Emalee Wills and freshman Carly Vanorden each have a goal against average of 1.00, 15 saves and a .938 save percentage.

The 'Hawks have an unrelenting offensive attack, racking up 100 shots in two games. They have done a good job defensively of not allowing many shots to get off, as their goalies have only faced 32 shots this season.

"We expect more of the same this weekend," assistant coach Jim Stearns said. "We're working on our new line combinations and improving our fundamentals. It's a long process and we'll add little things as we go along. We're looking forward to this weekend. It'll be like last week since it's a new program and we don't know much about them."

Midland (0-2), under first year head coach Shelby Edwards, who spent four years on the Brookings Rangers staff before taking the helm for the Warriors, is coming off a rough opening weekend of the program's inaugural season as it dropped 10-0 and 5-1 decisions to Davenport. The team does not have any juniors or seniors on the roster.

Freshman forward Sierra Alarid picked up the lone, unassisted goal for Midland, while freshman defenders Jess Laidlaw and Jessica Sandahl earned All-State distinctions before joining the Midland roster. Sophomore goalie Tessa Singleton stopped 42 of the 52 shots she faced and freshman goalie Katelyn Tomlian made 33 saves on 38 shots. To compound their woes, players have also spent 16 minutes in the sin bin in two games this season.

The RedHawks host Midland at 9:15 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. Both games will take place in the Goggin Ice Center.