Thursday, August 27
Orono, Maine
7:00 PM
University of Maine
vs
Merrimack
Photo by: Seth Poplaski
PREVIEW: Maine hosts Merrimack, heads to Colgate
8/23/2026 4:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Black Bears will host the Warriors on Thursday before traveling to New York to face Colgate.
ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine women's soccer team will host Merrimack at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the New Balance Soccer Complex. The Black Bears will then hit the road on Sunday, traveling to face Colgate at 1 p.m.
Thursday night's clash with the Warriors will stream live on America East TV while Sunday's contest at Colgate will be available on ESPN+.
Game 4 | Maine vs Merrimack
Thursday, Aug. 27 | 7 p.m. | AE TV
Orono, Maine | New Balance Soccer Complex
Game 5 | Maine at Colgate
Sunday, Aug. 30 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Hamilton, N.Y. | Beyer-Small '76 Field
ABOUT MAINE
• Maine enters Thursday night's contest at 1-2-0 after falling to Sacred Heart, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon … the Black Bears took a 1-0 lead early but gave up two goals in less than two minutes in the second half for the 2-1 non-conference loss.
• The Black Bears earned a 3-1 win over Mercer in the home opener on Thursday, Aug. 20.
• Sandrine Brault scored her first collegiate goal against Sacred Heart while Isabella Meadows poked home her first on Thursday night … Luise Reinwald had a pair of goals in the win over Mercer for her first career brace.
• Maine's first three games of the season all come against teams that played in their conference tournament championship games last season.
• The Black Bears went 6-8-4 overall in 2025 en route to a third consecutive America East tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth.
• Maine returns three of its top five scorers from the 2025 squad … eight of 11 goal scorers and eight of 12 overall point getters are also back for the Black Bears.
FAMILY TIES
• Freshman Ashley Kraemer is the third member of her family to play at Maine, joining older sisters Kayla (2020-24) and Abby (2021-24) … they have a fourth sister, Caitlin, who plays ice hockey at Minnesota Duluth.
• Junior Olivia Grisdale is the second in her family to play soccer at Maine … older sister Rebecca played three seasons at Maine, including two with Olivia, and was a captain on the 2025 squad.
• Sophomore Stella Jarvais is the second in her family to play soccer for head coach Scott Atherley … her mom Nikki played four seasons at Maine (1996-2000) and captained the squad as a senior … Stella's father, Kregg, was a member of the baseball team.
• Teagan Atherley is the daughter of head coach Scott Atherley, who was a four-year letterwinner on the men's soccer team at Maine (1984-88).
ABOUT MERRIMACK
• Merrimack enters Thursday night at 0-2-1 overall … last time out on Sunday, the Warriors fell to UMass Lowell, 5-2.
• The Warriors opened up the season with a 2-2 tie at Vermont before falling to Northeastern, 2-0.
• Isabella Keogh has scored three of Merrimack's four goals on the season while also leading the team in shots (7) and shots on goal (5).
• Kaitlyn Brewi and Addison Israel have split time in goal … Brewi is 0-1-1 with six saves while Israel is 0-1-0 with eight saves.
SERIES HISTORY vs MERRIMACK
• Maine sits at 2-1-4 in the all-time series with Merrimack.
• Last season, Maine picked up a 3-2 road win at Merrimack … current Black Bear Meghan Bernetti scored her first career goal in that game.
• Maine is 1-1-2 against Merrimack on the road and 1-0-2 at home.
• Prior to last season's road victory, the Black Bears' lone win in the series came in the first-ever meeting in the form of a 3-1 victory back in 2019.
ABOUT COLGATE
• Colgate, who hosts Canisius on Thursday night, stands at 1-2-0 overall … the Raiders picked up their first win on Aug. 20 with a 1-0 win at Marist.
• Bianca Howitt and Jocelyn Rowe each have scored a goal for the Raiders … Ava McCloskey, Regan Taylor and Jade Vieira have each tallied one assist.
• Goalkeeper Ella Poppinga was named the Patriot League Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
• The Raiders were picked third in the preseason coaches poll.
SERIES HISTORY vs COLGATE
• Maine is 0-2-0 all-time against Colgate … these two teams have not faced each other since 1993.
• The first-ever meeting in the series came in 1992, with the Raiders earning a 2-1 win … Colgate won the second meeting in 1993 with a 4-2 scoreline.
UP NEXT
• Maine will return home on Thursday, Sept. 3 to host Army for a 7 p.m. game at the New Balance Soccer Complex.
Thursday night's clash with the Warriors will stream live on America East TV while Sunday's contest at Colgate will be available on ESPN+.
Game 4 | Maine vs Merrimack
Thursday, Aug. 27 | 7 p.m. | AE TV
Orono, Maine | New Balance Soccer Complex
Game 5 | Maine at Colgate
Sunday, Aug. 30 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Hamilton, N.Y. | Beyer-Small '76 Field
ABOUT MAINE
• Maine enters Thursday night's contest at 1-2-0 after falling to Sacred Heart, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon … the Black Bears took a 1-0 lead early but gave up two goals in less than two minutes in the second half for the 2-1 non-conference loss.
• The Black Bears earned a 3-1 win over Mercer in the home opener on Thursday, Aug. 20.
• Sandrine Brault scored her first collegiate goal against Sacred Heart while Isabella Meadows poked home her first on Thursday night … Luise Reinwald had a pair of goals in the win over Mercer for her first career brace.
• Maine's first three games of the season all come against teams that played in their conference tournament championship games last season.
• The Black Bears went 6-8-4 overall in 2025 en route to a third consecutive America East tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth.
• Maine returns three of its top five scorers from the 2025 squad … eight of 11 goal scorers and eight of 12 overall point getters are also back for the Black Bears.
FAMILY TIES
• Freshman Ashley Kraemer is the third member of her family to play at Maine, joining older sisters Kayla (2020-24) and Abby (2021-24) … they have a fourth sister, Caitlin, who plays ice hockey at Minnesota Duluth.
• Junior Olivia Grisdale is the second in her family to play soccer at Maine … older sister Rebecca played three seasons at Maine, including two with Olivia, and was a captain on the 2025 squad.
• Sophomore Stella Jarvais is the second in her family to play soccer for head coach Scott Atherley … her mom Nikki played four seasons at Maine (1996-2000) and captained the squad as a senior … Stella's father, Kregg, was a member of the baseball team.
• Teagan Atherley is the daughter of head coach Scott Atherley, who was a four-year letterwinner on the men's soccer team at Maine (1984-88).
ABOUT MERRIMACK
• Merrimack enters Thursday night at 0-2-1 overall … last time out on Sunday, the Warriors fell to UMass Lowell, 5-2.
• The Warriors opened up the season with a 2-2 tie at Vermont before falling to Northeastern, 2-0.
• Isabella Keogh has scored three of Merrimack's four goals on the season while also leading the team in shots (7) and shots on goal (5).
• Kaitlyn Brewi and Addison Israel have split time in goal … Brewi is 0-1-1 with six saves while Israel is 0-1-0 with eight saves.
SERIES HISTORY vs MERRIMACK
• Maine sits at 2-1-4 in the all-time series with Merrimack.
• Last season, Maine picked up a 3-2 road win at Merrimack … current Black Bear Meghan Bernetti scored her first career goal in that game.
• Maine is 1-1-2 against Merrimack on the road and 1-0-2 at home.
• Prior to last season's road victory, the Black Bears' lone win in the series came in the first-ever meeting in the form of a 3-1 victory back in 2019.
ABOUT COLGATE
• Colgate, who hosts Canisius on Thursday night, stands at 1-2-0 overall … the Raiders picked up their first win on Aug. 20 with a 1-0 win at Marist.
• Bianca Howitt and Jocelyn Rowe each have scored a goal for the Raiders … Ava McCloskey, Regan Taylor and Jade Vieira have each tallied one assist.
• Goalkeeper Ella Poppinga was named the Patriot League Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
• The Raiders were picked third in the preseason coaches poll.
SERIES HISTORY vs COLGATE
• Maine is 0-2-0 all-time against Colgate … these two teams have not faced each other since 1993.
• The first-ever meeting in the series came in 1992, with the Raiders earning a 2-1 win … Colgate won the second meeting in 1993 with a 4-2 scoreline.
UP NEXT
• Maine will return home on Thursday, Sept. 3 to host Army for a 7 p.m. game at the New Balance Soccer Complex.
Players Mentioned
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