ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine women's soccer team will return to the pitch with a road contest this Thursday, September 26, when they take on the Warriors of Merrimack College. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm.
 
GAME INFORMATION
DATE: Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
SITE: Martone-Mejail Field - North Andover, Massachusetts
2021 RECORDS: Maine 1-0-0, Merrimack 0-2-0
VIDEO: NEC Front Row
LIVE STATS: merrimackathletics.com
TWITTER: @MaineWSoccer
 
The Series
Maine is 1-1 against Merrimack over the two all-time match-ups. The Warriors won the most recent contest.
 
Black Bears Notes and Notables

• The Black and Blue are looking to get back into the playoffs for the 14^th time in the last 19 seasons. Maine is led by 10 seniors and one graduate student.
• Abby Kraemer and Kayla Kraemer both scored their first career goals in Maine's Thursday night 2-0 victory over Sacred Heart. Hannah Bamford was credited an assist on Kayla's goal. Kira Kutzinski pitched a shutout in her first action of the 2021 season.

• Senior Julia Mahoney (Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Québec) comes into the season with 14 career points. Seniors Emma Donovan (Québec City, Québec) and Hannah Bamford (Rochester, New Hampshire) both enter the 2021 campaign with six career points.
• Kutziniski (Bünde, Germany), started six games last season, brings her 1.54 GAA from last season back to the pitch in Orono.

A Bit About the Warriors

• Merrimack is coming off a 4-3-0 season, which saw them miss the NEC tournament.
• Three of the Warriors top five scorers - Rebecca Harty, Erin Tyldesley, and Vanessa Wainwright - from 2020 return in 2021.
• Michele Silva will return in net after posting a 3.54 GAA and 0.500 save percentage over her two appearances last season. The netminder played two season with the Black Bears before transferring to Merrimack.

 
About Head Coach Scott Atherley
Now in his 29th season as a head coach in the NCAA, Scott Atherley is entering his 23rd season as the Maine women's soccer program's head coach.
 
Atherley has led the Black Bears 13 of the last 18 America East postseason tournaments.
 
In 1993, Atherley became head coach of the UMaine men's team and took on head coaching duties of the women's team in 1999, coaching both squads that year.
 
Atherley was a four-year letter-winner at UMaine between 1984 and 1987, serving as captain during his final season.
 
-UMaine-