UNH Battles Boston U. In Wildcat Classic Title Game (2 pm)

Day 2 – Sunday, August 26
Third place game: UMass vs. Northeastern, 11 am Live Stats
Championship game: Boston U. at UNH, 2 pm Video • Live Stats

UNH vs. UMASS

New Hampshire has a 17-19-2 lifetime record against UMass. The Wildcats prevailed 2-1 in overtime the last time these teams met, which was the opening day of the 2016 Wildcat Classic. • Recap • Box
UNH has won three straight, five of the last six meetings and 8 of 11 dating back to the 2001 season.
Six of the last seven matches have been decided in OT.
The Minutewomen's most recent victory in this series was 2-1 (in overtime, of course) in August 2012.
UNH has a 2-3 record vs. UMass in season openers. The 'Cats also prevailed in 1998 (2-0). The Minutewomen won in 2012 (2-1 OT), 1996 (4-0) and 1992 (1-0).

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

UNH returns 15 letterwinners from last year's team, which knocked off three nationally-ranked teams and advanced to the America East title game.
UNH welcomes six newcomers – one transfer and five freshmen – to the program.
There are two America East conference award winners among the returnees. Senior captain Rachel Bossi was an All-East Division Team selection and Bloem van den Brekel was named to the All-Rookie Team.

SEASON OPENERS

UNH has a 24-18-1 overall record in season openers and that includes last year's 5-4 overtime win against Northeastern University at the Terrier Classic, which was hosted by Boston U.
The 'Cats have won each of the past two season openers in overtime; they were 2-1 victors vs. UMass at home in 2016.
Each of UNH's past four season openers has been decided by one goal.

HOME OPENERS

New Hampshire has won each of the past four home openers with an overall record of 28-11-2 in home openers.
In the past decade, UNH has a 2-2 record in games that the season opener has been at home. In addition to the aforementioned win vs. UMass in '16, the other times it happened was 2012 (2-1 OT loss to UMass), 2010 (3-1 win vs. Lock Haven) and 2009 (5-2 loss to Syracuse).

POINT PRODUCERS

The top two goal scorers and point producers – senior midfielder Katie Audino and sophomore forward Bloem van den Brekel – are back to lead the 'Cat attack.
Audino – one of the 2018 co-captains – led the squad in both goals (10) and points (24), and scored her 10 goals on just 35 shots for an impressive .286 shooting percentage.
van den Brekel recorded seven goals and nine assists for 23 points to rank first on the team in assists as well as second in both goals and points. She also led the 'Cats in game-winning goals (three) and shots (51).

MIDFIELD MAINSTAYS

Senior co-captain Rachel Bossi had a breakout 2017 season in which she garnered Longstreth/NFHCA Northeast Region Second Team and America East All-East Division Team honors. Bossi contributed three goals – including two game-winners – and three assists for a total of nine points.
Junior vice captain Kayla Sliz is another veteran patrolling the midfield who could be a big point contributor for the 'Cats. Sliz, an America East All-Rookie Team member in 2016, netted three goals for six points last year.
Sophomore Isabelle Danahy played in all 21 games and was in the starting lineup each of the last six, including the three conference tourney games.

D-D-D-D-FEENSE

Junior Nicky Bajus is a source of stability for a young defensive unit. She started 20 of 21 games last year and was an integral part of both penalty corner units. On offense, Bajus scored two goals and UNH won both of those games by a one-goal margin.
Sophomores Julia Chase and Erin Malone also return to patrol the defensive end of the field. Both 'Cats saw action in one game a year ago.
Classmates Megan Borneman and Val Fay are making the transition from midfield to bolster the defensive unit. Fay (three games) and Borneman (one) saw limited action in '17.

DEFENDING THE CAGE

New Hampshire's defense is anchored by a third-year starter in goal with senior Kelsey Rudert. She started 20 of 21 games with a 2.74 GAA and .654 save percentage; in eight conference games, Rudert's numbers improved to a 2.24 GAA and .750 save percentage. As a sophomore in 2016, she started all 19 games and played 98.5% of the minutes.
The Wildcats' two additional goalkeepers are junior Madelyn McAteer and freshman Rachel Simkevich. McAteer had a 2.52 GAA and .682 save percentage in five games. Simkevich was a five-time letterwinner and her high school accolades included All-State First Team.

THE NEWCOMERS

Bailey Fanikos, a junior transfer from the University of Virginia, will immediately be a threat on offense. She helped UVA advance to the NCAA quarterfinals in both 2015 and 2016.
Finn Caron and Tia Raspante also look to contribute on the frontline. Caron helped lead The Governor's Academy to three consecutive Independent School League titles and was named to the ISL All-Conference First Team three times. Raspante was a four-time selection as a Lakes Region All-Star and three-time NEPSAC All-Star as she amassed 118 career goals.
Tori Palumbo looks to be part of the midfield rotation. She was a two-time WNEPSHA Class B All-Star and team captain at The Williston Northampton School.
Christina Hathaway will provide depth to the defense. She was named Hockomock League MVP and All-Star as well as Hockomocksports.com Player of the Year and First Team as a senior at King Philip Regional.
Rachel Simkevich was a five-time letterwinner and her high school accolades included All-State First Team.

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 270 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).

PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION

UNH was voted third in the East Division of the 2018 America East Field Hockey Coaches' Poll that was released in early August.
Albany received three first-place votes and 15 points to edge Maine (14 points; two first-place votes). UNH (10 points) was followed by UMass Lowell (6) and Vermont (5).
In the West Division, Stanford (9) was followed by Pacific (6), Cal (5) and UC Davis (4).
The 2018 America East Championships will be held Nov. 1-4 at Stanford University. The top four teams from the East will advance; all four West teams advance.

SCOUTING UMASS

UMass (Amherst, Mass.) was voted second in the Atlantic-10 Coaches' Poll.
Junior Sophie de Jonge as well as sophomores Lucy Cooper and Georgie McTear were named to the A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team.
Cooper is the top returning point producer with six goals and 10 assists for 22 points; the 10 assists led UMass and the 22 points ranked second.
McTear is the other returning player who tallied double digits in points with 13 (5g, 3a).
Neither goalie has collegiate experience; Megan Davies is a redshirt freshman and Johanna von dem Borne is a true freshman.
The roster has strong international flavor with seven other countries represented: Canada, England (2), Germany, Ireland, Netherlands (2), New Zealand and South Africa.
There are eight newcomers, including two transfers, on the 2018 roster.

SCOUTING BOSTON U.

Boston University enters the year ranked 19th in the NFHCA Preseason Poll. In 2017, the Terriers won their third Patriot League title in four years and are the favorites once again this season.
Senior back Ally Hammel was a All-America First Team selection last year and earned NFHCA Regional Player of the Year honors.
Hammel, senior midfielder Allie Doggett, junior midfielder Kiley Gallagher and sophomore forward Ailsa Connolly were all named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.

SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN

Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.) finished the 2017 season with an 8-12 record, facing off against nine nationally ranked teams, including a stretch of five straight during the crux of the season.
The Huskies returned to the CAA Tournament for the first time since the 2014 season. In the semifinals, NU held home team Delaware scoreless in the first half – one of just two teams to achieve that feat in 2017 – and held a 1-0 lead; NU was one of only three teams to hold a halftime lead in 2017 over the eventual national champions.
Five different Huskies earned postseason honors, while Jamie Bartucca landed on the NFHCA All-Region First Team.
The team scored 52 goals on the season, third in the conference and 25th nationally, led by Bartucca's 15 goals; that total was the most by an individual Husky since 2012 and 24th in the nation last season.

EXTENDED HOMESTAND

New Hampshire opens the 2018 season with five consecutive home games. Following the two games this weekend in the Wildcat Classic, UNH welcomes Harvard University (Aug. 31; 6 p.m.), Providence College (Sept. 7; 2 p.m.) and University of Iowa (Sept. 9; 1 p.m.) to Durham.

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Players Mentioned

Katie Audino

Nicky Bajus

Megan Borneman

Rachel Bossi

Finn Caron

Julia Chase

Isabelle Danahy

Bailey Fanikos

Val Fay

Christina Hathaway

Erin Malone

Madelyn McAteer

Tori Palumbo

Tia Raspante

Kelsey Rudert

Rachel Simkevich

Kayla Sliz

Bloem van den Brekel