Homestand Continues Friday (6 pm) vs. No. 15 Harvard

Friday, Aug. 31 ~ 6 pm ~ Memorial Field ~ Durham, N.H.
No. 15 Harvard (0-0) at UNH (1-1) ~ Video ~ Stats

UNH vs. HARVARD

New Hampshire has a 23-13-2 lifetime record against Harvard with an 8-2 advantage the past 10 meetings spanning the 2007-17 seasons; the teams did not meet in 2012.
Last year, the 17^th-ranked Crimson recorded a 3-0 victory at Harvard Field Hockey Stadium. Recap ~ Box
- Following a scoreless first half, Harvard scored goals 2:29 apart (47:09 and 49:38) to quickly take a 2-0 lead.
- In her first career start, Madelyn McAteer made a career-high six saves.
- Harvard had the edge in shots (13-9), UNH in corners (6-5).
Prior to last year, UNH had won seven consecutive matchups from 2008-16; five of those wins were by one goal, including four in overtime.
The Wildcats have won each of the last five matchups in Durham; Harvard's last win at Memorial Field was Sept. 4, 2004 (4-0).
In the most recent matchup at Memorial Field (Sept. 4, 2016), the Wildcats were 2-1 victors in OT. Recap ~ Box

RECAPPING THE WILDCAT CLASSIC

New Hampshire opened the 2018 season with last weekend's Wildcat Classic. UNH rallied to defeat UMass, 3-2, to advance to the title game, where the 'Cats lost 4-0 to 19^th-ranked Boston U.
In the opener, Bailey Fanikos struck first in the34th minute, then Tia Raspante and Finn Caron scored at 57:08 and 62:33, respectively, to erase a 2-1 deficit. Recap ~ Box
Kelsey Rudert made seven saves, including one on a penalty stroke, against BU. The Terriers scored goals 51 seconds apart in the second half to quickly double the lead from two goals to four. Recap ~ Box

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.

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 HARVARD

Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.), ranked No. 15 in the national poll, will play its 2018 season opener Friday at UNH. The Crimson was picked to finish second in the Ivy League in the league's first ever preseason media poll.
Harvard set a school record for wins (13) in 2017, finishing last year 13-4, including 6-1 in the Ivy League.
Led by head coach Tjerk van Herwaarden, Harvard returns its top four scorers from a season ago, including Longstreth/NFHCA All-America selection Bente van Vlijmen (11 goals, two assists) and reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year Mimi Tarrant, who tallied 12 goals and nine assists in '17.
Libby Manela started nine games in goal last season, when she recorded the nation's fourth best goals-against average (1.02) and posted three shutouts.

EXTENDED HOMESTAND

New Hampshire opens the 2018 season with five consecutive home games. Following the Friday's game vs. Harvard University, the Wildcats welcome Providence College (Sept. 7; 2 p.m.) and University of Iowa (Sept. 9; 1 p.m.) to Durham.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Next Event

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