Game Notes: Women's Lax Closes Regular Season With Key Game at UMBC

UNH Women's Lacrosse: GAME 16
UNH (6-9, 3-2 America East) at UMBC (8-7, 2-3 America East)
Saturday, April 30 • UMBC Stadium • 11 a.m. • Regular-season finale
Video • Stats

THE MATCHUP
UNH has a 12-2 lifetime record against UMBC. Last year, however, the Wildcats lost 15-6 at home to the Retrievers. That was just UMBC's second ever win against the 'Cats, with the first one being March 26, 2011 by a score of 10-8 at UMBC Stadium.

The first meeting between these two programs dates back to 1989, when UNH won 16-1. The teams have met annually since the Retrievers joined the America East conference in 2004. UNH won the initial nine meetings, but the series has been more even the past five years with the Wildcats holding a 3-2 edge.

In last April's matchup, UMBC scored four goals the last four minutes of the first half to extend a 4-3 lead to an 8-3 advantage heading into halftime. UNH closed within 8-6 with 27:29 to play, but did not score again the rest of the way as the Retrievers pulled away for a 15-6 victory. UMBC finished with a slight edge in shots (31-25) and ground balls (17-11), and committed fewer turnovers (11-15). The Wildcats held the advantage in draw controls (14-9).

UNH hopes to continue its good luck on the road against the Retrievers, where they are 5-1 all time and winners of the past two, including an 8-2 victory in 2014.

DEVELOPING THE PLAYOFF PICTURE
With one game left in the regular season, Stony Brook University and the University at Albany are tied atop the America East standings at 5-0; the winner of Saturday's matchup will be the top seed and host the conference tournament.

UNH currently sits alone in third place at 3-2, and a win at UMBC would lock the Wildcats into the third seed. One other outcome would secure a spot in the America East tournament – regardless of the outcome of UNH's game – and that is if Binghamton University defeats the University of Vermont (at UVM).

If UNH loses to UMBC and Vermont wins, there would be a three-way tie for third place. In this scenario, the Wildcats would be the third seed with a loss by one or two goals OR the fourth seed with a loss by four or more goals. Oddly enough, a loss by three goals is the only way New Hampshire could be eliminated from playoff contention.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
UNH enters Saturday's game at UMBC with a 6-9 overall record that includes 3-2 in America East and 2-6 on the road (1-1 in conference road games). The Wildcats have lost three in a row, including last Saturday's 12-3 home loss to Albany, since defeating the University of Vermont, 12-9, on April 9.

New Hampshire has lost two straight on the road – 11-4 at No. 8 Stony Brook (April 16) and 14-7 at Boston University (April 13). The 'Cats most recent road win as April 2 at Binghamton University, when they prevailed 9-8 in overtime.

UNH has limited the opponent to single-digit goals six times and has won all six; conversely, the 'Cats are 0-9 when surrendering 10+ goals. UNH is 4-3 when scoring in double digits this season.

The Wildcats' two lowest goal outputs of the season have been the past two games with three vs. Albany and four at Stony Brook.

The Wildcats are averaging 9.27 goals and 20.0 shots per game. The opposition has averaged 10.6 goals and 22.5 shots per game.

UNH has recorded the shot advantage in 4 of 15 games, the edge in ground balls 5 of 15 games and more draw controls in 8 of 15 games. The Wildcats have committed more turnovers in 10 of 15 games.

The overall totals of those stats are relatively even, however. Total ground balls are virtually even (191-190 in favor of the opponents), and the opposition also has a minimal advantage in both draw controls (165-158) and turnovers (201-211).

'CAT NIPS
Senior attacker Laura McHoul has tallied a point in 22 consecutive games dating back to the 2015 season with 26 goals and 46 assists for 72 points in that span. McHoul leads this year's team in assists (29) and points (43); she led the team in both stats her first three years as a Wildcat. McHoul has tallied multiple points 10 times in 15 games and that includes a seven-assist performance – all in the first half – against UMass Lowell (March 26).

Ten Wildcats have started all 15 games this season, while one other has 13 starts and another 11. That leaves a combined six starts for the remainder of the team (four by Catherine Sexton, two by Savanna Fiehler).

After being held out of the scoring column for the first time this season in the April 16 game at nationally-ranked Stony Brook, sophomore midfielder Carly Wooters scored one goal last Saturday vs. Albany. Wooters, who has six multiple-goal games, is UNH's leader in goals with 24 and she ranks third in points (27).

Wooters is more than just a goal scorer for the 'Cats. She ranks second on the team in caused turnovers, third in draw controls and fourth in ground balls.

Sophomore attacker Krissy Schafer saw her 12-game goal- and point-streak end against Albany; she tallied two shots vs. the Great Danes but was held with nary a goal or assist. Schafer has a goal in 13 of 15 games overall this season with seven multiple-point efforts, including six games with multiple goals. Schafer ranks second on the squad in goals (22) and is fourth in points (24), as well as fourth in draw controls.

Senior attacker Nicole Grote has tallied single-season highs in both assists (18) and points (36). Her 18 goals match a personal best. Grote has 105 career points with 64 goals and 41 assists.

DOUBLING UP
Senior co-captains Nicole Grote (18g, 18a) and Laura McHoul (14g, 29a) are the two Wildcats who have reached double digits in both goals and assists. McHoul has set up eight of Grote's 18 goals, while Grote has assisted on two of McHoul's goals.

NO. 9 CLIMBS TO NO. 4
Laura McHoul climbed into fourth place on the program's career leaderboard Wednesday, April 13 with a goal at Boston University. She entered the game tied with Jessie Groszkowski at 204.

McHoul enters Saturday's game with 78 goals and 131 assists for 209 points in 63 career games; those calculate to averages of 1.24 gpg, 2.06 apg and 3.30 ppg.

No. 3 on the all-time points list is Jess Burnap at 213. The top two are Karen Geromini (235) and Katie Leland (270).

ASSISTING HER WAY TO THE TOP
Laura McHoul entered the 2016 season already as UNH's record holder for career assists with 102; she supplanted Karen Geromini, who tallied 101 assists, as the record holder last season. McHoul has increased that record total to 131 with 29 this season.

McHoul holds four of the program's Top 7 single-season assist marks. She broke New Hampshire's single-season assist record with 39 in the 2014 season. She also holds No. 3 with 33 in 2013, No. 5 with 30 in 2015. This season's total of 29 is tied for No. 7 with Katie Leland (29 in 2006).

LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Kate Clancy has returned to reprise her role as starting goalkeeper. Through 15 games, the sophomore has stopped 111 of 266 shots on goal for a 10.93 GAA and .417 save percentage.

Clancy made a career-high 13 saves March 5 vs. Fairfield. She had previously matched her career high of 12 saves in consecutive games at UMass (Feb. 20) and at Dartmouth (Feb. 23).

GET THAT BALL
Hope Kissick leads UNH in both ground balls (30) and caused turnovers (17), and she ranks second in draw controls (23). Kissick matched her career high of five ground balls and tallied a season-high three caused turnovers vs. UMass Lowell (March 26). She has been credited with at least one ground ball 14 of 15 games with nine multi-GB efforts. Kissick has a draw control in 12 of 15 games with five multi-DC games. She has caused a turnover in 12 games with multiple CTOs four times.

CENTURY MILESTONES
Laura McHoul and Nicole Grote both attained a century milestone in the April 9 home game against Vermont. McHoul became the sixth player in program history to record 200 career points with the second of her six points, and Grote reached the 100-point milestone with the second of her four points.

McHoul entered that game with 198 career points and tallied an assist on each of UNH's first two goals to get to 200 five minutes into the game.

Grote entered that game vs. UVM with 98 career points and scored goals at 25:13 and 14:38 of the first half to reach 100 career points.

SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS
UMBC (Baltimore, Md.), coming off of a tough 13-10 home loss against the University of Vermont, stands at 8-7 overall and 2-3 in the America East conference. The Retrievers have a record of 2-4 in the month of April and are 3-4 at home, but they have lost four straight at UMBC Stadium since Feb. 27.

UMBC is averaging 11.27 goals per game as well as 27.7 shots per game, so they're definitely willing to shoot the ball. In comparison, the opponents score 10.0 goals and record 23.5 shots per game.

Junior Sam Nolan (36-21-57), sophomore Carolyn Jamison (45-9-54) and classmate Marissa Davey (30-12-42) have been taking charge for the Retrievers. The high scoring trio has started every game and combined for 111 of the team's 169 goals (66%) and 153 of 234 points (65%).

Jamison is much more than a goal scorer. She leads UMBC in both ground balls (28) and caused turnovers (20), is second in draw controls (28), and has taken a whopping 115 shots of the teams 415 total (28%).

Junior Ashley Peacock has started all 15 games between the pipes for the Retrievers. She's maintained a save percentage of .433 with a 10.15 GAA.

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