Preview: Miami field hockey opens 2024 season against Bucknell on Friday

The Miami University RedHawks field hockey team begins its 2024 campaign in Oxford against the Bucknell University Bison at 2 p.m. on Friday.

The RedHawks finished the 2023 season as champions of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). With a 15-8 (6-1 in MAC play) record, the team captured the conference for the sixth year in a row.

One week after conference play ended, the RedHawks competed against the University of California Golden Bears in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Their 3-0 shutout against the Golden Bears brought them to the Sweet Sixteen and found them across the field from the Northwestern University Wildcats.

The Wildcats gave Miami its eighth and final loss of the 2023 season. For head coach Iñako Puzo, there was much to celebrate about last year, but there was also much to look forward to this year.

In the offseason, Miami got busy with recruitment to fill the holes left by the seven players who graduated or transferred. Most notably, the space left by goalkeeper Isabelle Perese.

Since 2019, Perese played in 102 games, starting in 101 of them, and had 403 saves, accumulating a .752 career save percentage. She was named MAC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022. Last season, she was named to the All-MAC Second Team and the All-MAC Tournament Team.

Three goalkeepers will work to continue the effort by Perese: junior Nicky Sjouken, sophomore Jessie Gauna and first-year Charlotte Davidson.

The RedHawks faced Bucknell last year when the Bison gave them their last loss of the regular season in October. In that game, the RedHawks captured the lead in the second quarter. However, back-to-back scoring quarters in the second half let the Bison take the 2-1 victory.

After a lengthy offseason, the RedHawks are ready to start the season. Going in, the NCAA has Miami ranked 30th in the nation. Bucknell is ranked at 41.

The RedHawks play in Oxford at 2 p.m. on Friday. On Sept. 1, they take their home field once again against the Saint Francis University Red Flash at noon.

@thekethan04

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