CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - America East play begins this weekend in field hockey will all six teams in action. With four teams nationally ranked and a fifth appearing in earlier rankings, every game proves to be competitive.
Upcoming Games
Friday, September 28
#12 Boston U. at #23 Albany, 3 p.m. -- Live Stats
Albany, N.Y.
• The Terriers and Great Danes have combined to win six of the last seven America East titles (Boston U. - 2005, 06, 07, 09; Albany - 2008, 10)
• Albany has won five of the last seven meetings in the series with five of those games being decided by just one goal.
• Boston U. is 5-1 on the road this season, while Albany is just 1-3 at home.
• The Terriers and Great Danes are the top two defensive teams in the league as Boston U. boasts a conference-best 1.38 team goals-against average and Albany ranks second with a 1.54 team GAA.
• Albany is coming off a 3-2 win over #25 UMass on Sept. 22, which was powered by Corrine McConville's hat trick, while Boston U. dropped a 2-0 decision to #7 Virginia its last time out.
#15 New Hampshire at Fairfield, 3 p.m. – Live Stats
Fairfield, Conn.
• Two of the hottest teams in the conference square off in Durham. The Wildcats have won three of their last four while the Stags have won five of their last seven.
• UNH and Fairfield are two of the top scoring teams in the conference with the Wildcats scoring a conference-best 4.0 goals per game and the Stags ranking third averaging 2.50 goals per contest.
• The Stags' Felicitas Heinen and the Wildcats' Hannah Richard are tied for ninth nationally in goals per game (1.0 gpg). Heinen boasts an America East-best 23 points on 10 goals and three assists while Richard is second with 20 points on eight goals and four assists.
• UNH has won all five meetings with Fairfield since the Stags joined the conference as an associate member in 2007 by a combined score of 17-3.
Saturday, September 29
#24 Maine at Vermont, 1 p.m. – Live Video
Burlington, Vt.
• Both teams are coming off wins on Sunday as Maine beat Quinnipiac, 5-3, and Vermont beat Siena, 1-0, for its first win of the season.
• Maine, which leads the all-time series 22-9-1, has won five straight against UVM and 10 of the last 11.
• The Black Bears, who re-entered the national poll this week, have won five of their last six games.
• Vermont goalkeeper Stephanie Zygmunt leads the conference and ranks ninth nationally averaging 8.3 saves per game.