ORONO, ME - The University of Maine field hockey team is set to begin the 2022 season with a two-game road trip where they will face off against #25 UMass on Saturday, Aug. 27 and #1 Northwestern on Sunday, Aug. 28.

Both Saturday and Sunday games will be streamed on ESPN+. Both games are set to begin at 1:00 PM EST. Both games are to be hosted by UMass at Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex.

THE BLACK BEARS

Maine will be looking for continued excellence from veteran leadership on their squad that won the America East Championship a season ago. All-Conference First Team and NFHCA Regional All-American Second Team selections, Poppy Lambert and Chloe Walton, are among the top players in the conference and the northeast. Lambert's 17 goals from a season ago tied her for the the most goals in the conference, while her 34 points ranked third in the America East. Walton's 10 goals tied her for sixth in the conference, but her six game-winning goals ranked her first in America East. Sydney Meader also enjoyed a breakout season for the Black Bears, tallying 16 points a season ago, including a goal against opening weekend opponent UMass.

The Black Bears will be anchored in net by All-Conference First Team selection, NFHCA Regional All-American Second Team selection and the reigning America East Goalkeeper of the Year, Mia Borley. Borley had a 2021 season to remember, as she tallied the most minutes played by any America East goalkeeper, registering a .700 save % (91 total saves) and a 1.89 GAA in route to a 14-6 record.

WEEKEND PREVIEW: UMASS

The Black Bears open the season on Saturday, Aug. 27 against the #25 Minutewomen of UMass. A season ago these two squads squared off against each other, with UMass coming away with a 3-2 victory in overtime over the Black Bears. Sydney Meader scored in the contest for the Black Bears, a clutch-time goal with just 8 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime in the contest. 

For the Minutewomen, they are coming off of a 2021 season in which they went 13-6, 5-2 in the Atlantic 10 conference play. Bella Ianni is the top returning point scorer from a season ago for UMass, where she scored 5 goals and dished out an assist for 11 points on the season. Jess Beech (10 points) and Steph Gottwals (7 points) round out the top three returners from a season ago.

NORTHWESTERN

On Sunday, the Black Bears square off against #1 Northwestern. The Wildcats are coming off a national championship a season ago, where they went 18-5 and a perfect 4-0 in the NCAA Tournament.

Last season when these two sides squared off, the Wildcats grabbed the victory on their home field, 5-0. Bente Baekers returns as the top point-getter from a season ago for Northwestern, where she scored 18 goals and dished out nine assists for 45 points on the season. Maddie Zimmer (21 points) and Kayla Blas (16 points) round out the top three returners from a season ago.

The Huskies also return their top goal keeper from the 2021 season, Annabel Skubisz. Skubisz turned in a 16-5 record with a .782 save % and a 0.98 GAA.

For more information and to follow along, stay tuned to @MaineFH on Twitter and Instagram.

- UMaine -