General

Weekend Preview: Oct. 17-20

BOSTON – Last weekend Maine women’s soccer clinched an #AEWSOC Tournament berth, and more programs could earn claim tournament berths as we enter the final half of the regular season for many programs.
 
Women’s Soccer
Thursday
UAlbany at Vermont – 6 p.m.
New Hampshire at UMass Lowell – 6 p.m.
NJIT at Binghamton – 6:07 p.m.
UMBC at Bryant – 7 p.m.
 
Sunday
Binghamton at Vermont – 12 p.m.
UAlbany at Maine – 12 p.m.
UMass Lowell at NJIT – 1 p.m.
Bryant at New Hampshire – 2 p.m.
 
The standings could start to separate this weekend with a pair of play dates. Currently just four points separate teams 3-8 in the standings with two weeks left in the regular season. The must see matchup on Thursday is UAlbany at Vermont. The Great Danes have won two in a row to move up to third in the #AEWSOC Standings with seven points, while UVM is in a three-way tie just one point behind them. The Catamounts had won two in a row before a shutout at UML last week. A win for either team would go a long way to possibly earning at least one home contest in the tournament.
 
On Sunday, UVM faces another tough test against Binghamton. The Bearcats started slow but have won two straight as the defending regular season champions are finally hitting their stride. Elsewhere, UMass Lowell and NJIT battle to stay in playoff contention, while Maine seeks to stay perfect at home against UAlbany.
 
Field Hockey
Friday
No. 13 UAlbany at New Hampshire – 2 p.m.
Maine at Bryant – 3 p.m.
UMass Lowell at Vermont – 3 p.m.
UC Davis at No. 17 Iowa
 
Sunday
Maine at Northeastern – 12 p.m.
Colgate at Bryant – 12 p.m.
No. 13 UAlbany at No. 9 Boston College – 2 p.m.
Boston U. at New Hampshire – 2 p.m.
Dartmouth at UMass Lowell – 2 p.m.
UC Davis at No. 2 Northwestern – 3 p.m.
Merrimack at Vermont – 3 p.m.
 
Just two undefeated teams remain in #AEFH and the two squads play each other on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. New Hampshire (3-0) hosts No. 13 UAlbany (3-0), looking to take over sole possession of first place at the midpoint of the season. The Great Danes have scored at least two goals in 11 of 13 games this season, while the Wildcats have scored 2+ goals in six straight contests. This game also features the three leading scorers in the conference: Alison Smisdom (38 pts), Kathelijne Knuttel (27 pts) and Tasmin Cookman (22 pts).
 
Elsewhere on Friday, Maine looks to improve to 3-2 when they travel and Bryant, while UMass Lowell travels to Vermont for a key league matchup for third place. On Sunday all seven teams play in non-conference action, highlighted by the Great Danes traveling to face No. 9 Boston College. UC Davis plays at No. 2 Northwestern.
 
Men’s Soccer
Saturday
UAlbany at NJIT – 3 p.m.
Bryant at No. 20 Vermont – 4:30 p.m.
UMass Lowell at Binghamton – 6:07 p.m.
UMBC at New Hampshire – 7 p.m.
 
It’s a battle for first place this Saturday as Bryant travels to No. 20 Vermont. The Catamounts have won three straight contests and haven’t lost since their first match of the season. They’ve scored 2+ goals in six of their last eight games while Bryant has allowed just eight goals all season. The Bulldogs are coming off a 0-0 draw with UConn earlier this week after beating UMass Lowell 2-1 last Saturday.
 
Just one point separates teams currently seeded 3-8. UMBC plays at UNH as each team has four points in the league standings. UAlbany and NIJT both have three points apiece and face off at 3 p.m. looking to get firmly in the playoff picture. Binghamton hosts UMass Lowell as it looks for a second straight victory.
 
Volleyball
Friday
Bryant at UAlbany – 6 p.m.
 
Sunday
NJIT at Binghamton – 1 p.m.
New Hampshire at UMBC – 1 p.m.
 
It was a banner week for Bryant, who took down New Hampshire and UMBC last week to move into a three-way tie for first with the Wildcats and Retrievers at 3-1. All three teams are in action once this weekend, highlighted by UNH traveling down to UMBC on Sunday. The two programs have split their past four matchups, each going 1-1 on their home floor. The winner will try to keep pace with the Bulldogs who look to keep their momentum going at UAlbany on Friday evening at 6 p.m.
 
Cross Country
This Friday UMBC and NJIT compete  in the IC4A/ECAC Championship in the Bronx. On Saturday UMass Lowell travels to Wisconsin for the Pre-National Invitational and Sunday Vermont hosts Bryant, UAlbany and Binghamton for the Fall Foliage Invitational.
 
Swimming & Diving
Action in the pool begins on Friday as Bryant travels to Binghamton for a conference matchup, while New Hampshire hosts Vermont. Maine is also at home on Friday, facing Maine Maritime. The Catamounts then travel to Merrimack on Saturday.