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RedHawks head to Kent State for MAC Tournament

By Sadie Martinez, For The Miami Student

The Miami University women's field hockey team is looking to defend its back-to-back Mid-American Conference tournament titles this weekend.

The No. 3 seeded RedHawks (7-11, 4-2 MAC) face off against No. 2 seeded Kent State University (7-11, 5-1 MAC) 2 p.m. Friday. Kent State is the host school for the tournament. Senior midfielder/forward Valentina Neira is excited to play the Golden Flashes.

"We lost against them earlier in the year, so it's a revenge game," Neira said. "I think we are looking forward to it because it makes us work even harder to beat them."

When the RedHawks faced Kent State at home during the regular season play, but lost 2-1.

Senior back Ali Froede feels the team is ready for whatever challenge they face this weekend.

"It's a huge rivalry game," Froede said. " We are in a good place, we had a good week and we have the right mind set."

The other semifinal matchup features No. 1 seed Central Michigan University (7-11, 5-1 MAC and No. 4 seed Ohio University (5-10, 4-2 MAC).

Neira and Froede were named First-Team All-MAC, along with junior midfielder Bea Dechant.

Neira finished second in the MAC in points this season with 30, the most of any RedHawk since 2010.

This is the second year Froede made the All-MAC squad. She's scored three game winning goals this season.

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Dechant made First-Team All-MAC for the third straight year, joining a list of only two RedHawks who have done the same. Dechant finished the season with 17 points, eighth in the conference.

If Miami wins, they'll advance to the championship game 2 p.m. Saturday.