ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine soccer team will kick off the 2024 season this week with a trip to New York. The Black Bears will face Le Moyne on Thursday, Aug. 15 in the season opener before a clash at Syracuse on Sunday, Aug. 18.
 
The opening whistle against the Dolphins is set for 3 p.m. and the match will stream live on NEC Front Row. Sunday's game against the Orange, which will kick off at 1 p.m., will air live on ACCNX.
 
Game 1 | Maine at Le Moyne
Thursday, Aug. 15 | 3 p.m. | NEC Front Row
Syracuse, N.Y. | Ted Grant Field
 
Game 2 | Maine at Syracuse
Sunday, Aug. 18 | 1 p.m. | ACCNX
Syracuse, N.Y. | SU Soccer Stadium
 
ABOUT MAINE
• Maine went 11-2-6 overall in 2023 en route to the program's first-ever America East tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth … the Black Bears 8-0-4 start to the season marked the longest undefeated start to begin a season in program history
• Seven Black Bears earned America East All-League honors … Abby Kraemer, the 2023 America East Striker of the Year, became the first All-American in program history and the first for the America East since 2012.
• Maine returns 95 percent of the scoring from a season ago, including nine of the top 10 … the Black Bears graduated goalkeeper Kira Kutzinski, losing every minute in goal.
 
ABOUT LE MOYNE
• The Dolphins went 2-12-4 in 2023 in their first season of transitioning to Division I.
• Le Moyne was tabbed ninth in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Senior Danielle Casey returns to the midfield after earning All-NEC Second Team honors a season ago … the Dolphins return three of their top three scorers from 2023, including the top two in Jasmina Barhoumi (2-3-7) and Casey (3-1-7).
 
SERIES HISTORY vs LE MOYNE
• The Black Bears and Dolphins met in the season opener in Orono last year, with Maine picking up a 5-0 win in what was the first-ever game in the all-time series.
 
ABOUT SYRACUSE
• Syracuse went 2-14-2 during the 2023 season.
• Three of the top five scorers for the team last year are on the 2024 roster, including leading scorer Erin Flurey who had six goals and three assists.
 
SERIES HISTORY vs SYRACUSE/THE ACC
• Maine and Syracuse have met one other time prior to Sunday, with the Orange earning a 3-0 win on Aug. 31, 1997.
• The Black Bears last played an ACC school came on Sept. 4, 1999 when Maine hosted Miami in Orono, falling 2-0 … Miami was a member of the Big East at the time of the matchup.
• Maine is 1-5-0 against ACC schools, having faced Miami (1-1-0), Syracuse (0-1-0), Wake Forest (0-1-0) and Boston College (0-2-0)
 
UP NEXT
• Maine will play a single game next week, traveling to Rhode Island to face the Rams on Sunday, Aug. 25.
• The Black Bears will host Merrimack in the home opener on Thursday, Aug. 29.