ORONO, Maine—The University of Maine's Women's Ice Hockey team will kick off their season with an exhibition game on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m., against the University of New Hampshire at Whittemore Center Arena.

Maine vs UNH
Date: Sept. 22, 2024
Time: 4 pm
Site: Whittemore Center Arena | Durham, NH
2022-23 Record: 15-18-2, 11-14-2 HE

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Notes on the Black Bears:

• Head coach Molly Engstrom and assistant Kirsti Hussey enter their third season together, with a new assistant by their side in McKenna Wesloh.
• The Black Bears return 17 players from last season, including blue-liner captain Elise Morphy (2-12-14), while adding seven new players to the mix.
• Mira Seregély, a senior forward from Hungary returns after having three straight seasons of points in double-digits. The other four returnees who reached double digits in points were sophomores Lily Fetch (3-8-11) and Sam Morrison (4-6-10), senior Alyssa Wruble (5-5-10) and junior Ava Stevenson (2-9-11).
• Sam Morrison was the Hockey East Rookie of the Month for February when she registered seven points in eight games including a pair of game-winning goals. Morrison ended her freshman year on a four-game point streak, two of which were multi-point games.
• The freshman class includes two goaltenders (Madisyn Ryan, Kiia Lahtinen), two defenders (Kendall Sundby, Brenna Curl), and three forwards (Frederikke Foss, Stephanie Jacob, Gracie Hanson).
• Two transfers join the Black Bears from the WCHA - Dani Brunette (UMD) and Jaidyn Britt (SCSU). 
• Returning goaltender Julia Bachetti, who boasted a .908 save % and 2.09 GAA last season earned Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors twice (Nov 20, Dec 4), and ended with two shutouts. Bachetti led the goaltenders in total saves last season with 357.
• Maine was voted to finish 8th in the Coaches Pre-Season poll this year.
• The Black Bears finished the 2023-24 seventh in Hockey East with a record of 15-18-2, (11-14-2 HE), before falling to Merrimack in the opening round of Hockey East playoffs. 

Previous Matchup Facts with UNH:

• The overall series record between Maine and UNH is at 22-17-5 in favor of the Black Bears. The series record dates back to 2006.
• Graduate student Elise Morphy tallied a goal in two of the three games vs UNH last season, while Julia Bachetti saw two of the three games against the Wildcats.
• Haley Ryan, Lily Fetch and Ava Stevenson each notched an assist in last season's matchups.
• Despite outshooting them in all three matchups,  Maine fell to UNH three times last season. Scores were 2-3, 2-4 and 2-4.

Scouting the Wildcats:

• UNH was voted to finish 4th in the Coaches Pre-Season poll.
• Last season, UNH ended in third place in Hockey East.
• New Hampshire returns 15 letter-winners, including three of the top four goal scorers for last season (Kira Juodikis, Shea Verrier, Booke Hammer), as well as a goalie who started every game, now sophomore Sedona Blair. 
• The 'Cats welcome 10 newcomers with a breakdown of three grad students and seven freshmen.

Looking Ahead:

• The Black Bears have rigorous non-conference matchups set for the season, with six of their eight games against top-10 ranked opponents. 
• Starting with #10 ranked Quinnipiac, Maine will host the Bobcats for two games on Sept. 27/28 for their home-opener weekend.
• Other non-conference matchups include #1 ranked Wisconsin, #5 ranked Colgate and Harvard University. (Rankings are from USA Hockey's Preseason Women's Poll)
• Maine will start Hockey East conference play on October 11/12 against Providence College after having a bye weekend on October 4/5.

Tickets for contests at Alfond Arena are available for purchase online (GoBlackBears.com/Tickets, via phone (207-581-BEAR) or in person at the Alfond Arena Ticket Office during business hours (M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.). Sales are online only during non-business hours.

-UMaine-