'Cats Play Host to #11 Louisville Today (12 p.m.)

NEW HAMPSHIRE FIELD HOCKEY

Sunday, Oct. 8 • 12 p.m. • Memorial Field • Durham, N.H.
No. 11 Louisville (8-4) at UNH (4-6)
Video • Stats

UNH vs. LOUISVILLE

UNH has lost all four previous meetings against Louisville.
The last time these teams met was Aug. 31, 2014, when Louisville won 4-2 at home. Recap • Box
In the only other matchup in Durham, the Cardinals were 3-2 victors in 2010.
These teams also met in 2008 (4-3 overtime) at Syracuse University and 2001 (3-1) at Louisville.

A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEKEND

UNH split a pair of home games at Memorial Field last weekend with a 3-1 America East conference win against the University of Vermont (Sept. 29) and a 4-0 loss to ninth-ranked Boston College (Oct. 1).
The Wildcats won the Battle of the 'Cats against the Catamounts with a 16-6 shot advantage and 8-5 edge in penalty corners. Recap • Box
Last Sunday, BC scored twice in each half and tallied the edge in both shots (14) and corners (7-4). Recap • Box
UNH recorded a season-high eight penalty corners vs. Vermont. The 12 shots on goal and four assists against the Catamounts are second on the list of 2017 single-game superlatives.

'CAT NIPS

Freshman forward Bloem van den Brekel factored in all three UNH goals vs. Vermont with two goals and an assist. It marked her first career multiple-goal game and the five points also marked a personal best.
Senior back and captain Ashley Mendonca recorded a goal and a defensive save against Vermont.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire has a 4-6 overall record that includes 1-4 on the road and 1-1 in America East. The Wildcats are 0-1 in conference road games.
UNH went 1-2 on its three-game homestand.
Six of the Wildcats' final eight games are America East conference games. In addition to Louisville out of the ACC, the 'Cats also travel to play intrastate rival Dartmouth College of the Ivy League.
Half of the remaining games are at Memorial Field.
UNH is averaging 1.70 goals per game on 12.7 shots and 5.1 penalty corners per game. The opposition averages 3.00 goals, 11.7 shots and 4.3 corners per game.

AT A GLANCE

UNH is 4-0 when scoring at least three goals and is winless when scoring less than three goals.
UNH has played seven games against nationally-ranked teams (1-6 record).
The 'Cats have a 2-2 record in games decided by one goal, and that includes 2-1 in overtime. Rachel Bossi scored both of UNH's overtime goals.
The Wildcats have the advantage in both shots (61-52) and corners (23-21) the first half but have been outscored 12-6 before halftime.
Overall, New Hampshire has been outscored 30-17 despite recording a 127-117 shot advantage. The Wildcats have also recorded a 51-43 edge in corners.
The opponents have taken a 1-0 lead six of the past seven games; the only exception in that span (Sept. 8 to Oct. 1) was against Vermont last Friday, when the Wildcats built a 3-0 lead.

STAT LEADERS

Junior forward Katie Audino leads the Wildcats in goals (four) and points (11).
Bloem van den Brekel is second in both goals (three) and points (nine), as well as shots (17).
Audino, van den Brekel and senior midfielder Gianna Bensaia are tied atop the assist leaderboard with three apiece.
Rachel Bossi and Taylor Scafidi are tied for third in goals (two). Bossi is also third in points with six.
Ashley Mendonca has both of UNH's defensive saves.
Senior back Jessica Schmidt has a team0high 18 shots.
Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Rudert started the first six games of the season and 9 of 10 overall. Rudert has a 4-5 record with a 2.96 GAA and .574 save percentage.
Sophomore goalie Madelyn McAteer is 0-1 with a 2.61 GAA and .682 save percentage in four games (one start).

MARATHON MINUTES

Senior back Jessica Schmidt is the only Wildcat who has played all 730:48 this season.
Classmate Aggie Sutherland, a midfielder, has played 719 minutes.

BALDUCCI BIO

This is the 27^th season as UNH head coach for Robin Balducci.
She is the program's all-time winningest coach with 265 career victories, including four wins in 2017.
Balducci was inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame on Jan. 5, 2017.
She was inducted into UNH's Hall of Fame in 1998 and was also part of the 1985 NCAA national championship women's lacrosse team that was enshrined in 1994.
Balducci is a six-time America East Coach of the Year (1998, 2000-10-11-12-13).

SCOUTING LOUISVILLE

The 11^th ranked Louisville Cardinals (Louisville, Ky.) enters the weekend with an 8-4 overall record that includes 0-4 on the road and 6-3 against non-conference teams.
Before playing UNH, the Cardinals travel to Boston College for an ACC matchup on Friday.
Louisville is averaging 2.17 goals and 13.3 shots per game while allowing 1.5 goals and 10.7 shots per game.
Minout Mink and M martin Pelegrina are tied with a team-high 13 points each.
Nicole Woods has 9 international caps for the USWNT, helping the team to a gold medal in the FIH World League Semifinal 2 games.
Ayeisha McFerran has played in 9 out of 12 games with a .705 save percentage and a 1.65 GAA, and Hollyn Barr has played in 6 of 12 games with a .773 save percentage and a 1.0 GAA

LOOKING AHEAD

Following this weekend's action, UNH plays host to Maine on Friday the 13^th (3 p.m.) and then has an Oct. 15 rematch at Vermont.

2017 SEASON ACCOLADES

Freshman forward Bloem van den Brekel was honored as America East Rookie of the Week on Aug. 29 (the first week of the season).

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Players Mentioned

Katie Audino

Gianna Bensaia

Rachel Bossi

Madelyn McAteer

Ashley Mendonca

Kelsey Rudert

Taylor Scafidi

Jessica Schmidt

Aggie Sutherland

Bloem van den Brekel