ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine field hockey team will face America East foes UMass Lowell and UAlbany this weekend, which could directly determine playoff seeding for the upcoming America East Tournament.

The Black Bears (9-4, 3-1 AE) split its meetings against the River Hawks and Great Danes this season, with both games coming down to the wire. Maine came back from a 2-0 halftime deficit to down UMass Lowell 3-2 in overtime on October 1 in the America East Conference opener.
 
Maine hosted UAlbany a few days later on October 6, as the Great Danes struck for the lone goal in the game in the 64^th minute to defeat the Black Bears.
 
Maine currently ranks second in the East Division of the America East Conference with a 3-1 conference record, while UAlbany leads the division with a 4-1 conference record. The River Hawks are currently in third place with a 2-3 record in conference play, as UNH boasts the same record. Vermont rounds out the division with a 1-4 overall record.
 
With two wins this weekend, UMaine would stay in contention for the No. 1 seed in the East Division heading into the final weekend of the regular season. The Black Bears will play Vermont and New Hampshire next weekend, before embarking to UMass Lowell for the America East Championships, with the opening round starting on November 1 and ends with the championship game on November 5.
 
UMass Lowell River Hawks (8-8, 2-3 AE) at Maine Black Bears (9-4, 3-1 AE)
Friday, Oct. 20 | 3:00 p.m. | ESPN 3 | International Feed | Live Stats | @UMaineFH  
SITE: UMaine Field Hockey Complex
SERIES HISTORY: Maine, 11-1-1
                Current streak: The Black Bears have won the last nine meetings since 1987.
                Last meeting: 2017, Maine 3-2 (OT)
                First meeting: 1985, Maine 7-0
                All-time score: Maine, 41-13

About the Maine Black Bears (9-4, 3-1 America East)

• The Black Bears enter Friday's contest against the River Hawks winners of five of last seven games, including wins over Vermont and New Hampshire in its last two games.
• With two goals last weekend, sophomore Brianna Ricker jumped from third on Maine's points leaders to first. She now leads Maine with 10 goals on the season for 23 total points.
• With a win against UMass Lowell, the Black Bears will clinch a 10-win season for the ninth consecutive season.
• Starting in the 2015 season, Maine has been undefeated against the East Division of the America East, excluding UAlbany. During that period, the Black Bears have posted 16-4 record against all America conference foes. Maine last lost to an East Division America East conference foe 713 days ago against UNH on November 6, 2015 in the America East playoffs.
• The Black Bear offense that ranks eighth nationally in goals per game and seventh in points per game, has become more balanced as the season has gone on in terms of who is contributing. Three Black Bears have eclipsed the 20-point mark (Brianna Ricker - 23 pts., Libby Riedl - 22 pts., Samantha Wagg  - 21 pts.) while three others have topped 10-points (Madison Cummings - 13 pts., Emily Hindle  - 12 pts., Casey Crowley – 11 pts.)
•  Only No. 1 UConn has more players (4) ranked in the top-50 point scorers than Maine. American, Delaware, and Maine are the only programs with three student-athletes in the top-50.

Maine Team Top-25 National Rankings

• 6^th in scoring average (3.42)
• 7^th in points per game (9.85)
• 8^th in goals per game (3.46)
• 8^th in assists per game (2.92) 

Maine Individual Top-25 National Rankings

• Libby Riedl
  • 13^th in assists per game (.77)
• Emma Cochran
  • 16^th in Win-Loss percentage (.692)
• Brianna Ricker
  • 22^nd in goals per game (.83) 

America East Conference Standings 

East Division	Conference Record	Overall
1.) #20 UAlbany	4-1	9-5
2.) Maine	3-1	9-4
3.) UMass Lowell	2-3	8-8
4.) New Hampshire	2-3	5-10
5.) Vermont	1-4	5-9

 

West Division	Conference Record	Overall
1.) California	3-1	8-6
2.) No. 17 Stanford	2-1	8-6
3.) Pacific	2-2	6-7
4.) UC Davis	0-3	1-13

About the UMass Lowell River Hawks (8-8, 2-3 AE)

• UML enters Friday's contest against Maine following a tough 4-2 loss at home against UAlbany.
• Anouk Lalande scored both of the River Hawks' goals against Maine on Oct. 1, and continues to lead UML with 11 goals and 24 points on the season.
•  Goalkeeper Eva Berkhout has tallied 106 saves on the season, averaging 2.20 goals allowed per game and a .763 save percentage.
• The River Hawks have plenty of experience in overtime on the season, playing in six games needing an extra period. UML won its first four games entering OT, but fell to Maine to break the streak.
• UMass Lowell is 3-2 on the road this season, including wins against nationally-ranked UAlbany, and enter Friday's game on a two-game road winning streak.

UMass Lowell Team Top-25 National Rankings

• 16th in save percentage (.779)
• 16^th in saves per game  (7.50) 

UMass Lowell Individual Top-25 National Rankings

• Kelly Mankowich
  • 12^th in defensive saves (3)
• GK Eva Berkhout
  • 13^th in saves per game (.69)
  • 17^th in save percentage (.763) 

Maine Black Bears (9-4, 3-1 AE) at. No. 20 UAlbany Great Danes (9-5, 4-1 AE)
Sunday, Oct. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | Watch  | Live Stats | @UMaineFH
SITE: Alumni Turf Field, Albany, N.Y.
SERIES HISTORY: UAlbany, 16-9
               Current Streak: UAlbany has won the last five meetings since the 2015 season
               Last meeting: The Great Danes won 1-0 on October 6, 2017.
               First meeting: 2000, UAlbany 5-2

About the No. 20 UAlbany Great Danes (9-5, 4-1 America East)

• The nationally ranked Great Danes enter the weekend on a five-game win streak, and have been undefeated in the month of October. UAlbany last lost on September 29 against UMass Lowell in overtime.
• Before hosting the Black Bears on Sunday, UAlbany will welcome Vermont to the New York state capital on Friday at 2:00 p.m.
• Katie MacCallum leads the Great Danes' with 1.57 points per game, including 0.64 goals per contest.
• In goal, Melissa Nealon has been the catalyst, saving 78 percent of the shots she has faced on the season. 

UAlbany Team Top-25 National Rankings

• 10^th in save percentage (.788)
• 15^th in scoring margin (1.21)
• 15^th in goals against average (1.42)
• 20^th in goals per game (2.79)

UAlbany Individual Top-25 National Rankings

• GK Mellissa Nealon
  • 8^th in save percentage (.788)
  • 14^th in goals against average (1.42)
  • 23^rd in win-loss percentage (.643)

Up Next

• Following the two games this weekend, Maine travels to Vermont in hopes of sweeping the Catamounts on Friday, before hosting rival UNH in the regular season finale on October 29.