Conference Opener vs. Border Rival Maine (Sept. 28); Travel to UML on Sunday

Friday, Sept. 28 ~ 3 pm ~ Memorial Field ~ Durham, N.H.
No. 18 Maine (8-1, 0-0 AE) at UNH (2-6, 0-0 AE) ~ Video ~ Stats

Sunday, Sept. 30 ~ 1 pm ~ Cushing Field ~ Lowell, Mass.
UNH (2-6, 0-0 AE) at UMass Lowell (5-3, 0-1 AE) ~ Video ~ Stats

CARON NAMED AMERICA EAST ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Finn Caron was named America East Rookie of the Week on Tuesday (Sept. 25).
Caron scored the game-winning goal vs. Bryant University at Memorial Field last Friday when she gave UNH a 1-0 lead at 4:35; the Wildcats went on to win 6-0.
Caron, positioned outside the right post, redirected a blast by Bloem van den Brekel inside the near post for her second goal of the year.

UNH vs. MAINE

New Hampshire has a 28-16 lifetime record against Maine. The Wildcats ended the Black Bears' stretch of five consecutive wins in the series with a 2-1 win in Orono last October. Earlier that month, Maine prevailed 4-3 in Durham.
Oct. 29, 2017 at Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex: UNH 2, Maine 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).
Oct. 13, 2017 at Memorial Field: Maine 4, UNH 3 • Recap • Box
- Maine scored the first two goals, took a 2-1 lead into the half and then extended the advantage to 4-1. van den Brekel (62^nd minute) and Taylor Scafidi (68^th) trimmed the deficit to one goal. The 'Cats did not record a shot the rest of the way.
- UNH finished with the edge in both shots (14-10) and corners (5-1).
Seven of the last 10 meetings have been decided by one goal.

UNH vs. UMASS LOWELL

New Hampshire has a 7-1 lifetime record vs. UMass Lowell with a 3-1 mark at Cushing Field.
Each of the last six matchups has been decided by one goal – four by a 2-1 score. Two of the six were decided in overtime.
Oct. 22, 2017 at Memorial Field: UNH 4, UML 3 • Recap • Box
- UNH led 3-0 at halftime and extended the advantage to 4-0 before UML stormed back with goals in the 43^rd, 52^nd and 62^nd minutes.
Oct. 6, 2017 at Cushing Field: UNH 2, UML 1 (OT) • Recap • Box
- The River Hawks struck first in the 24^th minute and took that one-goal lead into halftime. Nicky Bajus tied the score at 59:51 and Gianna Bensaia scored 12:27 into overtime to lift the 'Cats to victory.
- UNH recorded a sizable 30-13 shot advantage (15-10 shots on goal), including 6-1 in overtime.
The River Hawks recorded their only win vs. UNH Oct. 7, 2016, by a score of 2-1.
These teams first met in 2013, when UMass Lowell elevated to Division I and joined the America East conference.

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

UNH has a 2-6 overall record that includes 2-4 at home and 0-2 on the road.
The Wildcats have lost all four matchups against nationally-ranked teams – 4-0 to No. 19 Boston University, 4-1 to No. 15 Harvard, 2-0 to No. 14 Iowa (all rankings at date of game), and 6-0 at No. 9 Boston College.
Last weekend, the Wildcats were on the plus side of a 6-0 score vs. Bryant University (Sept. 21 at Memorial Field) and then the 'Cats were on the short end of the same score at BC (Sept. 23).
New Hampshire's six goals 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).
UNH has been shut out three of the last four games and 4 of 8 games this season.
UNH is averaging 1.38 goals per game as well as 10.4 shots and 5.4 penalty corners. Opponents are averaging 2.62 goals, 12.4 shots and 5.8 corners.
Nine Wildcats have started all eight games; one other has started 7 of 8 and goalkeeper Kelsey Rudert has started 6 of 8 (she was a DNP in both games last weekend).

LAST WEEKEND RECAP

New Hampshire recorded season highs in goals (six), shots (24), shots on goal 917) and penalty corners (14) in the 6-0 win vs. Bryant on Sept. 21. The Wildcats led 4-0 at halftime and scored twice in the second half.
Bailey Fanikos recorded career highs in both goals (two) and points (four).
Bloem van den Brekel tallied a goal and an assist.
Madelyn McAteer recorded three saves for her first career win and shutout; it was her first start of the season and second career.
UNH was outshot 25-4 in the 6-0 loss at ninth-ranked BC last Sunday; the Eagles scored three goals in both the first and second halves.

INSIDE THE STATS

The opposition has recorded the shot advantage 6 of 8 games; the exceptions were UNH's 21-5 shot advantage at Brown (Sept. 14) and 24-7 vs. Bryant (Sept 21).
UNH had the edge in penalty corners 3 of 8 games – 4-1 vs. UMass in the opener, 10-4 at Brown and 14-4 vs. Bryant.
New Hampshire has scored on 11 of 83 shots (13.3%) with 49 of 83 shots on goal (59.0%); in comparison, the opposition has scored on 21 of 99 shots (21.2%) with 59 of 99 shots on goal (59.6%).
UNH has been outshot 52-41 in the first half and 47-42 in the second half.

POINT PRODUCERS

Junior forward Bailey Fanikos, in her first year as a Wildcat, leads the team in goals (three) and points (six). Fanikos ranks third in shots with 11.
Junior back Nicky Bajus ranks second in points (five) and is tied for second in goals (two). Bajus has a team-high 21 shots.
Freshman forward Finn Caron is tied for second in goals (two) and tied for third in points (four). She has scored her two goals on just six shots for a .333 shooting percentage. Also of note, Caron has scored both of UNH's game-winning goals.
Sophomore midfielder Bloem van den Brekel is tied atop the assist leaderboad (two) and is tied for third in points (four). She is second in shots with 12.
Seniors Katie Audino and Erin McNamara also have two assists. Both players play at the forward, midfield and back positions.
Senior captain Rachel Bossi is one of three 'Cats who has a tally in both the goals and assist columns with one goal and one assist for three points.

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 eight 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. 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 third-year starting in goalie Kelsey Rudert. The senior started the first six games this season and was a DNP both games last weekend. Rudert has a 1-5 record and has stopped 24 of 39 shots on goal for a 2.67 GAA and .615 save percentage.
Junior Madelyn McAteer received the starting nod against both Bryant and BC last weekend. 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 last Sunday 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 272 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), ranked No. 18 in this week's national poll, has an 8-1 record that includes 3-0 on the road.
The Black Bears won eight consecutive games prior to last Sunday's 4-1 defeat by Harvard in Orono.
Friday's game at UNH will be Maine's first America East conference game.
The Black Bears average 4.78 goals, 18.0 shots, and 8.0 penalty corners per game. The opposition is averaging 1.33 goals, 6.3 shots, and 3.0 penalty corners per game.
Libby Riedl leads Maine with nine goals. She is also the top point scorer (20). Casey Crowley (6g, 4a) and Samantha Wagg (5g, 2a) are second and third, respectively, in points.
Mia Borley has started all nine games this season (628 of 634 minutes). She has a 1.23 GAA and a .633 save percentage with an 8-1 record.

SCOUTING UMASS LOWELL • Home page

The University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a 5-3 record that includes 4-1 at home. The River Hawks enter the match riding a single-game win streak. They beat Quinnipiac, 5-1, in Lowell last Sunday.
UML has alternated wins and losses the past seven games.
The River Hawks are 0-1 in America East play with a 1-0 home loss to Albany on Sept. 21.
UMass-Lowell is averaging 2.88 goals, 14.6 shots, and 6.5 penalty corners per game. The opposition is averaging 1.25 goals, 12.1 shots, and 5.6 penalty corners per game.
Torrie Huk leads the River Hawks with eight goals. She also is the top point scorer (20) and is tied atop the assist leaderboard with four.
Anouk Lalande (7g, 1a) is second in points with 15.

Eva Berkhout has started all eight games (555 of 576 minutes). She has posted a 1.26 GAA and .792 save percentage with a 5-3 record and two shutouts.

UP NEXT

Next weekend, the Wildcats continue America East action Oct. 5 (3 p.m.) at home vs. Vermont and Oct. 7 (1 p.m.) at Albany.

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