Conference Continues with Split vs. UVM (Oct. 5), at Albany (Oct. 7)

Friday, Oct. 5 ~ 3 pm ~ Memorial Field ~ Durham, N.H.
Vermont (4-6, 1-0 AE) at UNH (3-7, 1-1 AE) ~ Video ~ Stats

Sunday, Oct. 7 ~ 1 pm ~ Alumni Turf ~ Albany, N.Y.
UNH (3-7, 1-1 AE) at #24 Albany (7-3, 1-1 AE) ~ Video ~ Stats

UNH vs. VERMONT

New Hampshire has a 33-6 lifetime record against Vermont. UVM's 1-0 double overtime win last October at Moulton-Winder Field ended the Wildcats' 12-game win streak in this Battle of the 'Cats.
UNH has an 18-1 home record at home against Vermont. UVM's one win in Durham was in 2006 (4-3 in overtime).
Oct. 15, 2017: UVM 1, UNH 0 (2 OT) • Recap • Box
Last September at Memorial Field, the Wildcats won 3-1 behind two goals from Bloem van den Brekel and a 16-6 shot advantage. • Recap • Box
Vermont has not scored more than one goal each of the past eight meetings between the 'Cats, and just once the past 13 matchups.

UNH vs. ALBANY

New Hampshire has a 12-16 lifetime record against the University at Albany. Last year, the Great Danes swept the regular-season series, but the Wildcats prevailed 2-1 in overtime of the America East semifinal matchup at UMass Lowell on Nov. 4.
In that postseason game, Kayla Sliz gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead at 7:23 and Katie Audino ended the game with 58 seconds remaining in the first OT; Kelsey Rudert made nine saves against the No. 21 Great Danes. • Recap • Box
In last year's meeting at UAlbany's Alumni Field (Sept. 16), the 21^st-ranked Great Danes scored twice in both halves to record a 4-0 victory. • Recap • Box
In the regular-season rematch at Memorial Field, 22^nd-ranked UAlbany prevailed 4-2 as the visitors held two-goal leads of 2-0 and 3-1. Bloem van den Brekel lifted UNH within 3-2 at 60:52, but the Great Danes scored four minutes later. Rudert made a career-high 12 saves. • Recap • Box
UNH was a 2-1 winner at Alumni Field in 2016, when UAlbany was ranked No. 17. Current UNH assistant coach Ashley Mendonca scored twice. • Recap • Box

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

UNH has a 3-7 overall record that includes 3-4 at home and 0-3 on the road.
New Hampshire is 1-1 in America East with a win at home and a loss on the road.
UNH has alternated wins and losses the past five games.
This will be the third consecutive weekend – fifth time this season – the 'Cats play Friday and Sunday.
The Wildcats have a 1-4 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) and at No. 9 Boston College (6-0). [Note: all rankings at date of game]
UNH is averaging 1.50 goals per game as well as 10.4 shots and 5.0 penalty corners. Opponents are averaging 2.60 goals, 13.0 shots and 6.3 corners.
Eight Wildcats have started all 10 games; two others have started 9 of 10 and goalkeeper Kelsey Rudert has started 8 of 10 (she was a DNP Sept. 21 & 23).

LAST WEEKEND RECAP

New Hampshire recorded a 3-2 home win against No. 18 Maine (Friday, Sept. 28) and then lost 3-1 at UMass Lowell (Sunday, Sept. 30).
The Wildcats struck first vs. Maine on a goal by Katie Audino, and then Audino set up a Bailey Fanikos tally that gave UNH a 2-1 lead it would not relinquish. Rachel Thomson extended the advantage to 3-1 in the 62^nd minute. Kelsey Rudert made one of her nine saves on a Maine penalty corner at the end of regulation to preserve the 3-2 lead. • Recap • Box
UNH fell behind UMass Lowell in the second minute but Finn Caron, with the assistance of Thomson, tied the score 1-1 in the 18^th minute. The River Hawks regained the lead with 17 seconds remaining in the first half and struck again in the 49^th minute. • Recap • Box

NOTES FROM BRYANT

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 7 of 10 games; the exceptions were UNH's 21-5 shot advantage at Brown (Sept. 14), 24-7 vs. Bryant (Sept 21) and 15-14 at UMass Lowell. The 'Cats were victors in one of those three games.
UNH had the edge in penalty corners 3 of 10 games – 4-1 vs. UMass in the opener, 10-4 at Brown and 14-4 vs. Bryant.
New Hampshire has scored on 15 of 104 shots (14.4%) with 62 of 104 shots on goal (59.6%); in comparison, the opposition has scored on 61 of 130 shots (20.0%) with 78 of 130 shots on goal (60.0%).
UNH has been outshot 71-52 in the first half and 59-52 in the second half.

POINT PRODUCERS

Junior forward Bailey Fanikos, in her first year as a Wildcat, leads the team in goals (four) and points (eight). Fanikos ranks third in shots with 13.
Freshman forward Finn Caron ranks second in goals (three) and points (six). She has scored her three goals on just eight shots for a .375 shooting percentage. Also of note, Caron has scored two of UNH's three game-winning goals.
Senior midfield/back Katie Audino and junior back Nicky Bajus are tied for third in points with five apiece. Audino has a goal and team-high three assists while Bajus has two goals and an assist.
Bajus has also recorded a team-high 23 shots.
Seniors Rachel Bossi and Erin McNamara, as well as sophomore Bloem van den Brekel, are tied for second in assists with two. Both Bossi and van den Brekel, who ranks second in shots (15), have also scored a goal.

D-D-D-D-FENSE

Nicky Bajus, who started 20 of 21 games last season, is the anchor of this year's young defensive unit. She has started all 10 games in 2018 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 10 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 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 and was a DNP the weekend of Sept. 21-23.
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.
Rudert has a 2-6 record and has stopped 37 of 57 shots on goal for a 2.62 GAA and .649 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 VERMONT • Home page

The University of Vermont (Burlington, Vt.) has a 4-6 record overall and is 1-0 in America East conference play. UVM's record on the road is 1-3.
The Catamounts are coming off a 1-0 victory against UMass-Lowell 1-0 in Burlington last Friday. UVM recorded the edge in both shots (12-7) and corners (12-6).
Vermont averages 1.60 goals, 11.6 shots, and 6.4 penalty corners per game. The opposition is averaging 2.20 goals, 11.5 shots, and 5.1 penalty corners per game.
Landon Warren leads the Catamounts with five goals. She also leads the team with 10 points. Rachel Phillips (3g, 1a) ranks second in points, and is followed by Carla Godsman (2g, 1a), Olivia Hurd (1g, 3a) and Clodagh Ferry (2g, 1a).

Sierra Espeland has played every minute (711) in net Vermont. She has a 2.17 goals against average and a .662 save percentages while posting a 4-6 record and one shutout.

SCOUTING ALBANY • Home page

University at Albany (Albany, N.Y.), ranked No. 24 in this week's poll, has a 7-3 overall record and is 1-1 in conference play with a 4-0 home record. Albany plays host to UMass Lowell on Oct. 5 before playing UNH.
The Great Danes have won five of their last six games. They lost their last match at Maine, 2-1 in double overtime, last Sunday. Their five-game win streak began with three consecutive shutouts – Bryant (2-0), at Lafayette (4-0), at UMass Lowell (1-0).
Albany averages 2.70 goals, 17.7 shots, and 8.2 penalty corners per game. The opposition is averaging 0.70 goals, 8.1 shots, and 3.1 penalty corners per game.
Dana Bozek leads the Great Danes with eight goals and 16 points. Ghislaine Beerkens (7g, 1a) and Frederike Helmke (3g, 2a) are second and third, respectively.

Melissa Nealon has played every minute in net (713). She has a 0.69 goals against average and .833 save percentage while posting a 7-3 record and four shutouts.

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action Thursday, Oct. 11 at #16 Wake Forest. The Wildcats' stretch of three consecutive games – all against nationally-ranked teams – ends Oct. 14 at #17 Maine. Both games are at 1 p.m.

AMERICA EAST AWARDS

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

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results