ORONO, Maine – After going 6-3 in non-conference play to open the season, the Maine Black Bears field hockey team transitions to America East play to face UMass Lowell on Sunday afternoon. The Black Bears seek their seventh consecutive conference opener win against the River Hawks.
                 
Maine Black Bears (6-3, 0-0 AE) at UMass Lowell 4-4, 0-0 AE)
Sunday, Oct. 1 | 1:00 p.m. | AE.TV | Live Stats | @UMaineFH  
SITE: Cushing Field Complex, Lowell Mass.
SERIES HISTORY: Maine, 10-1-1
                    Current streak: Maine has won the last nine meetings since 1987
                    Last meeting: 2016, Maine 3-0
                    First meeting: 1985, Maine 7-0
                    All-time score: Maine, 38-11
 
About the Maine Black Bears (6-3, 0-0 America East)

• Maine enters Sunday's contest following a tough 4-1 loss against now No. 11 Stanford last week.
• The Black Bears have been very successful in conference opening games in recent memory, winning every America East opener since 2010.
• With Libby Riedl and Samantha Wagg ranking in the top-11 nationally in points per game, only Virginia matches the Black Bears with two players ranked in the top-11 (Tara Vittese and Pien Dicke).
• Wagg extended her point streak to five straight games and seven of nine games this season with a goal against Stanford last Sunday. During the five game-stretch, she registered 12 points (4 goals, 4 assists).
• Emily Hindle has recorded points in five straight games as well, with three goals and four assists. 

Maine Team National Rankings

• 3^rd in assists per game (3.56)
• 4^th in points per game (11.11)
• 5^th in goals per game (3.78)
• 9^th in scoring margin (2.57)
• 16^th in penalty corners per game (7.00)
• 19^th in winning percentage (.667)
• Most goals in a game this season (8/29 Bryant 12 goals)
• 2^nd most points in a game this season (8/29 Bryant 32 points)

Maine Individual National Rankings

• Jr. M Libby Riedl
  • 3^rd in assists per game (1.29)
  • 11^th in points per game (2.22)
  • 3^rd most points in a single game (8/29 Bryant 9 points)
• Jr. B Samantha Wagg
  • 11^th in points per game (2.22)
  • 24^h in goals per game (.78)
  • 21^st in assists per game (.67)
• Jr. B Emily Hindle
  • 20^th in assists per game (.71)
• R-Sr. GK Emma Cochran
  • 19^th in Win-Loss pct. (.667)

About the UMass Lowell River Hawks (5-5, 0-0 AE)

• The River Hawks snapped a four game losing skid after defeating Siena, 1-0.
• Before playing the Black Bears on Sunday, UMass Lowell travels to UAlbany on Friday afternoon.
• UMass Lowell played tough against No. 12 Stanford last Thursday, only falling by one goal in the last two minutes.
• Three of UML's four games they won this season came in overtime.
• Anouk Lalande lead' the team with 17 points on eight goals and an assist in 2017
• Eva Berkout has played and started in nine of the River Hawks' 10 games this season, but Kelsey Federico started and played all 70 minutes in UML's last game against Siena.

UMass Lowell Team National Rankings

• 13^th in saves per game (7.70)
• 16^th in penalty corner per game (7.00)
• 19^th in save percentage (.786) 

UMass Lowell Individual National Rankings

• GK Eva Berkout
  • 10^th in saves per game (7.44)
  • 22^nd in save percentage (.761)
• Anouk Lalande
  • 20^th  in goals per game (.80)

Up Next

• The Black Bears return home next weekend with to battle with nationally-ranked on Friday  UAlbany and will take on Vermont on Sunday afternoon.