Second Half of Conference Play Begins at Maine (Oct. 14)

Sunday, Oct. 14 ~ 1 pm ~ UMaine Field Hockey Complex ~ Orono, Maine
UNH (3-9, 1-3 AE) at No. 17 Maine (11-2, 2-1 AE) ~ Stats

UNH vs. MAINE

UNH has a 29-16 lifetime record against Maine that includes a 3-2 victory Sept. 28 at Memorial Field. In that game, Katie Audino recorded a goal and an assist and Kelsey Rudert made a season-high nine saves to lead the Wildcats. Recap • Box
The Wildcats have won two straight in the series.
In the most recent meeting at UMaine Field Hockey Complex (Oct. 29, 2017), UNH prevailed 2-1. 1 • Recap • Box
- In the regular-season finale, the 25^th-ranked Black Bears struck first in the 28^th minute, but Katie Audino tied the score at 49:29 and Bloem van den Brekel gave UNH a 2-1 lead with 5:21 remaining. Maine responded immediately with four shots (two blocked, two saved by Kelsey Rudert).
- Maine had the 18-15 shot advantage, but the 'Cats recorded more shots on goal (11-9) and corners (9-3).
Eight of the last 11 meetings have been decided by one goal.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE • Home page • Schedule • Roster • Stats

UNH has a 3-9 overall record that includes 0-4 on the road and 2-6 in non-conference games (0-2 in non-conference road games).
UNH has lost three straight since defeating 18^th-ranked Maine. The 'Cats scored three goals that game vs. the Black Bears and then scored a total of three goals the next three games.
New Hampshire is coming off a 2-1 road loss to 24^th-ranked University at Albany on Oct. 7. It was UNH's first overtime game of the year.
UNH has a 2-3 record in games decided by one goal.
The Wildcats have a 1-5 record against nationally-ranked teams that includes a 3-2 home win against No. 18 Maine on Sept. 28. The 'Cats have lost to No. 19 Boston University (4-0), No. 15 Harvard (4-1), No. 14 Iowa (2-0), at No. 9 Boston College (6-0) and at No. 24 Albany (2-1 in overtime). [Note: all rankings at date of game]
UNH is averaging 1.42 goals per game as well as 10.4 shots and 4.8 penalty corners. Opponents are averaging 2.58 goals, 12.9 shots and 6.2 corners.
Eight Wildcats have started all 12 games; one other has started 11 of 12 and goalkeeper Kelsey Rudert has started 10 of 12 (she was a DNP Sept. 21 & 23).

LAST WEEKEND RECAP

New Hampshire recorded a 16-7 shot advantage and 5-2 edge in penalty corners but was defeated 3-1 by the University of Vermont at Memorial Field last Friday.
Vermont 3, UNH 1 (Oct. 5 at Memorial Field) • Recap • Box
The Wildcats then traveled to Albany, N.Y. for a matchup against 24^th-ranked Albany and returned with a 2-1 overtime loss. UNH struck first on a goal by Finn Caron in the 40^th minute, but the Great Danes tied the score four minutes later and scored 5:02 into overtime for the win. • Recap • Box

SIX GOALS AND A SHUTOUT

New Hampshire's six goals in the 6-0 win vs. Bryant University (Sept. 21 at Memorial Field) marked the highest total since Oct. 30, 2016, when the 'Cats also scored six goals vs. Dartmouth College.
It was UNH's first shutout since Oct. 23, 2015 (4-0 win at Vermont).

INSIDE THE STATS

The opposition has recorded the shot advantage 8 of 12 games; the exceptions were UNH's 21-5 shot advantage at Brown (Sept. 14), 24-7 vs. Bryant (Sept 21), 15-14 at UMass Lowell and 16-7 against Vermont. The 'Cats were victors in one of those four games.
UNH had the edge in penalty corners 4 of 12 games – 4-1 vs. UMass in the opener, 10-4 at Brown, 14-4 vs. Bryant and 5-2 against Vermont.
New Hampshire has scored on 17 of 125 shots (13.6%) with 77 of 125 shots on goal (61.6%); in comparison, the opposition has scored on 31 of 155 shots (20.0%) with 93 of 155 shots on goal (60.0%).
UNH has been outshot 85-59 in the first half and 68-66 in the second half, as well as 2-0 in overtime.

POINT PRODUCERS

Junior forward Bailey Fanikos and freshman forward Finn Caron – both first-year Wildcats – lead the team in goals (four) and points (eight). Fanikos ranks second in shots with 19 while Caron is fifth in that stat with 11.
Fanikos recorded career highs of two goals and four points Sept. 21 vs. Bryant University.
Caron has scored two goals the past three games. She has tallied four goals on 11 shots for a .364 shooting percentage. Also of note, Caron has two of UNH's three game-winning goals.
Senior captains Katie Audino and Rachel Bossi and junior back Nicky Bajus are tied for third in points with five apiece. Bajus has two goals and an assist while both Audino and Bossi have tallied a goal and a team-high three assists.
Bajus has also recorded a team-high 24 shots.
Senior Erin McNamara and sophomore Bloem van den Brekel are tied for third in assists with two. van den Brekel, who ranks third in shots (17), has also scored a goal.

D-D-D-D-FENSE

Nicky Bajus is the anchor of this year's young defensive unit. She has started all 12 games and never comes off the field.
Sophomore Erin Malone, who played in one game a year ago, has stepped into a starting role this season with nine starts in 12 games. She recorded a defensive save vs. Iowa.
Senior captain Katie Audino, who patrolled the midfield and frontline of attack her first three years as a Wildcat, has transitioned more into a defensive role. She has made a smooth transition, as evident by her team-high two defensive saves.

DEFENDING THE CAGE

New Hampshire's defense is anchored by third-year starting goalie Kelsey Rudert. The senior started the first six games this season, was a DNP the weekend of Sept. 21-23, and has started each of the last four games.
In her return to the starting lineup, Rudert made a season-high nine saves to backbone the Wildcats to a 3-2 win against 18^th-ranked Maine on Sept. 28.
Last weekend, Rudert stopped eight shots in the 2-1 overtime loss at No. 24 Albany.
Rudert has a 2-8 record and has stopped 47 of 72 shots on goal for a 2.58 GAA and .653 save percentage.
Junior Madelyn McAteer received the starting nod against both Bryant and BC. She stopped three shots vs. Bryant for her first career win and shutout, then made a career-high five saves (5 GA in 40:43) at ninth-ranked Boston College. In three games, she is 1-1 with a .643 save percentage and 2.55 GAA.
Freshman Rachel Simkevich made her collegiate debut Sept. 30 at BC. She played the final 29:17 and stopped two of three shots on goal for a .667 save percentage and 2.39 GAA.

BALDUCCI BIO

This is the 28^th season as UNH head coach for Robin Balducci.
She is the program's all-time winningest coach with 273 career victories
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 MAINE • Home page

The University of Maine (Orono, Maine) enters the weekend ranked #17 in the nation with an 11-2 overall record that includes 2-1 in America East and 3-1 at home.
The Black Bears play host to UMass Lowell on Friday before playing UNH on Sunday.
Maine has won three consecutive games, including a 2-1 overtime victory against Albany, since its 3-2 loss at UNH on Sept. 28.
The Black Bears are averaging 4.23 goals, 18.9 shots and 8.2 penalty corners per game. The opposition averages 1.23 goals, 6.4 shots and 3.0 corners.
Libby Riedl leads the team in goals (10) and points (22).
Casey Crowley, Samantha Wagg and Nine Keur have seven goals apiece. Emily Hindle is next with six.
Mia Borley has started all 13 games and is the only Black Bear to see any action in goal. She has a 1.14 GAA, .694 save percentage and three shutouts.

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action Oct. 19 at home against UMass Lowell. Start time at Memorial Field is 3 p.m.

AMERICA EAST AWARDS

Finn Caron – Rookie of the Week (Sept. 25)

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Players Mentioned

Katie Audino

Nicky Bajus

Rachel Bossi

Finn Caron

Bailey Fanikos

Erin Malone

Madelyn McAteer

Erin McNamara

Kelsey Rudert

Rachel Simkevich

Bloem van den Brekel