Homestand Ends Sunday vs. Iowa

Friday, Sept. 7 ~ 2 pm ~ Memorial Field ~ Durham, N.H.
Providence College (2-3) at UNH (1-2) ~ Video ~ Stats

Saturday, Sept. 8 ~ 1 pm ~ Memorial Field ~ Durham, N.H.
Providence vs. Iowa

Sunday, Sept. 9 ~ 1 pm ~ Memorial Field ~ Durham, N.H.
#14 Iowa (3-1) at UNH (1-2) ~ Video ~ Stats

UNH vs. PROVIDENCE

New Hampshire has a 21-13 lifetime record, including 11-6 at home, against Providence College with the Wildcats winning the most recent matchup, 2-1, at Memorial Field (Sept. 25, 2015). Recap • Box
In that game, UNH scored in the 17^th minute to take a 1-0 lead into halftime and then extended the advantage to two goals in the 44^th minute. PC scored three minutes later to close within 2-1, but neither team would score the final 23 minutes.
These teams met annually from 2009-15; UNH held a 4-3 edge.

UNH vs. IOWA

New Hampshire has a 2-12-1 lifetime record against the University of Iowa and that includes last year's two-game series split at Grant Field.
In the first game (Sept. 8), Rachel Bossi scored 3:36 into overtime to lift UNH to a 3-2 victory. Rachel Thomson and Katie Audino scored second-half goals to give the 'Cats a 2-1 lead; Kelsey Rudert finished with seven saves. Recap • Box
In the rematch (Sept. 10), 17^th-ranked Iowa scored five unanswered second-half goals to record a 7-1 victory. Recap • Box
Six of the first seven meetings in this series were decided by one goal; the other was a 1-1 tie at UNH's Memorial Field in 1985.
UNH and Iowa faced off in the 1986 NCAA national title game and the Hawkeyes won 2-1 in double overtime.
Prior to last year, these programs had not met since 2004, when Iowa prevailed 5-0 at home.
The most recent matchup at Memorial Field was Sept. 7, 2003 (9-1 Iowa win).
UNH's other win vs. the Hawkeyes came in the first meeting in 1980 by a score of 1-0 in Durham.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

UNH enters the weekend with a 1-2 record; all three games have been at home.
After opening the season with a 3-2 win against UMass, the Wildcats have lost back-to-back games against nationally-ranked teams – 4-0 to #19 Boston University and 4-1 to #15 Harvard University.
UNH is averaging 1.33 goals per game as well as 8.0 shots and 3.33 penalty corners. Opponents are averaging 3.33 goals, 12.7 shots and 3.67 corners.
Ten Wildcats have started all three games.
The opposition has recorded the shot advantage all three games.
UNH had the edge in penalty corners vs. UMass (4-1), but both BU (6-4) and Harvard (4-2) generated more corners.
New Hampshire has scored on 4 of 24 shots (16.7%) with 13 of 24 shots on goal (54.2%); in comparison, the opposition has scored on 10 of 38 shots (26.3%) with 27 of 38 shots on goal (71.1%).
UNH has been outshot 24-8 in the first half, but the 'Cats have the 16-14 edge after halftime.

POINT PRODUCERS

Junior back Nicky Bajus, who is also a key component on offensive penalty corners, has a team-high three points with one goal and one assist. She assisted on the game-tying goal vs. UMass and scored UNH's only goal vs. Harvard.
Finn Caron, Bailey Fanikos and Tia Raspante have scored one goal apiece.
In addition to Bajus, four 'Cats have recorded one assist.

D-D-D-D-FENSE

Bajus, who started 20 of 21 games last season, is the anchor of this year's young defensive unit.
Sophomore Erin Malone, who played in one game a year ago, has stepped into a starting role this season.
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.
Senior Erin McNamara can be found playing back, midfield or forward.

DEFENDING THE CAGE

New Hampshire's defense is anchored by a third-year starter in goal with senior Kelsey Rudert. She has started all three games this season and played 183 of a possible 210 minutes. Rudert has stopped 15 of 25 shots on goal for a 3.82 GAA and .600 save percentage
Junior Madelyn McAteer played the final 26:33 vs. Harvard and stopped the only shot on goal.

THE NEWCOMERS

Bailey Fanikos started the first two games of the season and scored a goal – UNH's first of the 2018 season – in her Wildcat debut vs. UMass.
Finn Caron and Tia Raspante have made an immediate impact on the frontline. Raspante scored the game-tying goal and Caron followed five minutes later with the game-winner vs. UMass.
Tori Palumbo has played three games, all off the bench, as part of the midfield rotation.

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 271 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 PROVIDENCE

Providence College (Providence, R.I.) enters Friday's game with a 2-3 overall record that includes 1-3 on the road.
The Friars have a two-game win streak following last Sunday's 4-1 home win vs. Bryant.
PC has already played three America East teams – all from the West Division – with a 5-1 loss to Cal, 3-2 loss to UC Davis and 2-1 loss to Pacific.
Providence is averaging 1.80 goals and 13.6 shots per game.
Allyson Parker leads the Friars with three goals, seven points and 17 shots.
Izzy Mendes, Kara Sanford and Mikayla Michals are tied for second with two goals and four points.
Maddie Babineau has a team-high three assists.
Lydia Rice has started 4 of 5 games; she has a 2-2 record with a 2.00 GAA and .667 save percentage.

SCOUTING IOWA

The University of Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa) enters the weekend ranked 14^th in the nation with a 3-1 overall record that includes 0-1 on the road. Iowa plays Providence on Saturday before facing off vs. UNH on Sunday.
Iowa travels east following back-to-back home wins last weekend against Dartmouth (6-0) and Ball State (7-1).
Iowa averages 4.00 goals and 17.0 shots per game.
Maddy Murphy leads the Hawkeyes with four goals, four assists and 12 points.
Katie Birch follows her on the leaderboard with four goals, two assists and 10 points.
Leslie Speight has started all four games in goal with a 0.97 GAA, .852 save percentage and one shutout.
Iowa opened the year with two games in the Big 10/ACC Challenge in which the Hawkeyes defeated #14 Wake Forest (2-1) and lost to #2 North Carolina (2-1, OT).

NEXT TIME IN DURHAM

New Hampshire hits the road for the first time this season when the Wildcats travel to play Brown and Wake Forest next weekend.
UNH's next home game is Sept. 21 (3 p.m.) against Bryant.

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Players Mentioned

Katie Audino

Nicky Bajus

Rachel Bossi

Finn Caron

Bailey Fanikos

Erin Malone

Madelyn McAteer

Erin McNamara

Tori Palumbo

Tia Raspante

Kelsey Rudert

Rachel Thomson

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