Story by Emily Scott
The Team
As one of the best decorated teams in Miami University history, the field hockey team starts each year determined to do better than the last.
“The sport requires the athlete to be smart, fit and strong-willed,” sophomore Mia Gordon said.
The team has been coached for the last nine years by head coach Iñako Puzo. Puzo grew up in Barcelona, Spain and got his passion from field hockey from his father. Field hockey is more popular in Europe than in the United States and is largely a men’s sport there. Puzo began his coaching career while he was in college and continued to coach different girl’s teams until he got to Miami. Puzo is joined by assistant coaches Chip Rogers and Rayell Heistand, and Goalkeeping Coach Jon O'Haire.
Some of the players said they would have liked for the Miami student body to recognize their accomplishments. Senior Marie Görner said “it would be nice” for students to pay more attention to the team, because they “work so hard all year to compete on a D1 level.” Görner is from Berlin, Germany, plays center back and “fell in love” with the sport when she was around six years old. She said they know they have the support of their families and the athletic department, and “that’s what matters.”
Coach Puzo agrees.
“Our job is to have a good team that the student body can feel proud of. That is my goal. I am not looking to be recognized by the student body, I just want to be proud of my team,” Puzo said.
Building a culture between teammates and coaches is a priority for the coaching staff. They expect every player to step up to their role on the team. As a result, the field hockey team does not have captains. Coach Puzo said he feels naming leadership hurts other team members’ ability and willingness to lead. He taught his players that they each have a role to play on the team and must lead in that role.
The sense of community means a lot to the players. It gives them each a chance to be part of a tight-knit group, represent their school, travel and meet new people, including the players on the team from Germany, the Netherlands, Hong-Kong, Switzerland and Canada. This made going to games, practices and even traveling more fun, according to several of the players.
“I got to experience the best of both worlds. I got to experience American college life and American sports. I always had a sense of belonging, and I never felt lonely or lost at this big institution,” Görner said.
The 2019 Season
“In the beginning, we had to learn how to adjust the way we play after graduating so many impactful seniors last year,” Gordon said.
Gordon is a sophomore from Reisterstown, Maryland. She began playing nine years ago when she was in sixth grade and currently plays forward for the RedHawks.
The team went 11-7 overall and 5-1 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Six of the losses were to teams ranked nationally in the top 25. The RedHawks ended the season as the 40th best team in the nation, according to ncaa.com.
“This team worked very hard. We played good hockey and came ready for each game. I am very happy with them this year because of the character shown each day,” Puzo said.
Each of the field hockey team’s nine home games were dedicated to specific causes or people. Some of the themes included cancer awareness, Myaamia heritage, pride, hero’s appreciation and international student appreciation. They marked each of these games with special attire, which was often ribbons or scrunchies. The announcer also gave context about the theme of the game in between announcing the lineups and the national anthem.
The cancer awareness game was especially memorable for the team. Junior defender Laurel Dortch survived childhood cancer and was able to take part in a special role to start the game. She partook in a ceremonial pushback where she passed the ball back to both of her parents.
This season was also marked by accomplishments by coaches and players alike. On Oct. 27, Coach Puzo and his team celebrated his 100th career win as the RedHawks head coach. They won 2-1 in a shootout against UC Davis. He helped lead the team to win four regular season MAC titles, four MAC Tournament Championships and the first two wins in the NCAA Tournament in Miami history in 2017 and 2018, according to miamiredhawks.com. They made it to the Sweet 16 round both times.
“It was a great experience. It felt like a constant adventure,” Görner said.
In addition to Puzo’s accomplishment, four players earned either MAC Offensive or Defensive Player of the Week. These players included Görner, defensive player Isabelle Perese, offensive player Allie Grace Joyner and offensive player Leonor Berlie, who won the award twice. Görner, Joyner and Berlie were also named All-MAC First Team.
The MAC Tournament
Six games were played on Miami turf as part of the MAC tournament. On Nov. 8 Miami played Appalachian State University, ranked sixth in the division, for the semi-finals. Goals by seniors Lexi Silver and Kenzie Peterson advanced their team with a shutout to the MAC championship game. On the same day, first ranked Kent State University beat fifth ranked Longwood University 2-1 to advance them to the championship game as well.
Miami’s Silver had the first shot of the game, but fought from behind most of the game, as Kent State’s Sydney Carr scored within the first five minutes of the game. At halftime the Golden Flash’s had three more shots and two more attacking penalty corners than the RedHawks.
After neither team scoring in the second and third periods, Miami put one on the board 45 seconds into the fourth and final period. Kent State was playing a man down after one of their players got a yellow card late into the fourth period, which carried over to the start of the fourth. Lexie Nugent scored her third goal of the season, and Neely Lochmoeller had the assist.
As the ball hit the back of the goal, a new wave of energy rolled over the red and white side of the stands. The Miami fans in attendance jumped up screaming for their team. Students erupted into the chant “I believe that we will win,” which became one of many cheers performed in the remaining 14 minutes.
Both teams fought with a strengthened intensity, now that the MAC Champions title was only one goal away. With five minutes left in the game, a shot by Joyner hit the feet of a Kent State defender who was behind her goalie, which resulted in a penalty stroke for the RedHawks. Berlie took the stroke and it became her 14th goal of the season. The last five minutes were fast-paced, as Kent State was eager to tie the game. With three minutes left, they took their goalie out to put an extra field player in. Miami was able to keep up and kept their lead until the final buzzer sounded, marking the team’s third MAC Tournament Championship win in the last three years.
“It feels amazing and I feel so relieved now. The hours before the game were very nerve racking. As a senior, you know every game can be your last one, and I didn’t want this to be it. I’m very happy about the way the game ended and I’m so proud of the team,” Görner said.
After shaking hands with the opposing team, the RedHawks ran over to the stands to celebrate with the cheering crowd. The players sang Miami’s fight song together with arms wrapped around each other while fans jumped up and down on the bleachers.
The team then went to the center of their turf and sang the song “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” while hoisting up their newly won trophy. In the preseason, the team watched the movie “Remember the Titans” as a team bonding activity, and the song has been one of their favorites to sing together ever since.