BATHURST hockey talent Rachel Miller has helped create history for the Kent State University Golden Flashes as she set up the goal which won them an eighth Mid-American Conference Tournament title on Saturday.
In a tense final against two-time champion Ohio, a long pass from Miller picked out team-mate Natalie Barrett, who turned the ball into the net with less than 17 minutes remaining.
It was the only goal of the match but it was enough for Kent State Golden Flashes to pick up another title 20 years after they first became the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champions.
“We’ve taken a step up since last season. From the back field to the forwards our passing is better and we’re on executing corners,” Miller, who has been named in the 2008 All-Tournament Team, told the Kent State website.
Miller, a MacKillop College graduate, is in her second season with the Ohio based university and her impact with the Golden Flashes since joining has been impressive as she continued the form she showed for Premier League Hockey outfits Waratahs and Bathurst City.
She left Bathurst for the United States in August last year and after a month was named MAC offensive player of the week. From their Miller went on to be named in the All-MAC First Team and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-West Region Team but gained perhaps her biggest honour when named the MAC Freshman of the Year.
It confirmed she had taken her hockey to another level after previously representing Australia at the under 21s Youth Olympics.
This year Miller has continued to be a crucial part of the Golden Flashes outfit, the Bathurst talent scoring two goals in her first game on August 30 against St Francis as her side romped to a 9-0 victory.
She finishes the MAC season with 12 goals, including doubles against Lock Haven (September 7) and Central Michigan (October 17).
On Friday afternoon Miller and her team-mates came up against Central Michigan in the MAC semi-finals and made it 10 wins in a row as they posted a 4-1 victory.
Central Michigan were the first to score off a penalty corner play, but with just under 11 minutes of the game gone the Golden Flashes levelled from a set play of their own.
Miller played a hand in the goal as she passed off to team-mate Debbie Bell who then blasted home.
Not long after Miller had her side in front as she took possession in front of goal and tucked her shot past the rival goalkeeper.
Five minutes into the second half Miller was again involved as she started the movement that led to the Golden Flashes’ third goal, linking with Bell who then put Nicole Leach in two-on-one. She slotted her shot into the right corner to make it 3-1.
With seven minutes remaining this same trio linked to score a fourth Golden Flashes goal. This time Bell did the lead up work, Miller blasted the ball into the circle and Leach deflected it into the net.
The 4-1 win ended Central Michigan’s run and Miller certainly enjoyed it.
Following up this result with victory in Saturday’s decider took the Golden Flashes’ record for the season to 17 wins and four losses. It also qualifies Miller and her team-mates for tomorrow’s NCAA Tournament Play-In game.
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