University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Field Hockey Opens 2016 Campaign At Wildcat Classic
August 25, 2016 | Field Hockey
Minutewomen start season at New Hampshire on Friday
NOTICE: For the Sept. 2 home-opener against Columbia at 1 p.m., all fans attending are asked to park in Lot 22 as Lot 11 will not be available due to move-in weekend. Please use 116 North to access University Drive (second right turn) and, once on University Drive, make your first right turn to enter Lot 22 on the left. Locate the parking area through the campus map available here.
| University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Game Notes: Wildcat Classic | |
| Game One | Massachusetts (0-0) at New Hampshire (0-0) |
| Date | Time | Friday, Aug. 26 | 4:00 p.m. |
| Location | Memorial Field; Durham, N.H. | Parking |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 19-16-2. Last meeting: UNH 4, UMass 3; Aug. 29, 2015 |
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast (provided by UNH) |
| Watch Live | AmericaEast.tv (provided by UNH) |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
| @UMassFH | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Field Hockey | |
| University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Game Notes: Wildcat Classic | |
| Game Two | Massachusetts vs. No. 16 Northwestern |
| Date | Time | Sunday, Aug. 28 | 11:00 a.m. |
| Location | Memorial Field; Durham, N.H. | Parking |
| Series History | UMass leads Northwestern, 4-1. Last meeting: NU 1, UMass 0; Sept. 4, 1993 |
| Live Statistics | Statbroadcast (provided by UNH) |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | Northwestern |
| @UMassFH | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Field Hockey | |
The Massachusetts-New Hampshire Scouting Report
University of Massachusetts field hockey and New Hampshire meet for the 38th time in program history with a 2016 season-opening contest at UNH's Memorial Field. The Minutewomen hold the all-time edge in the series, 19-16-2, but the Wildcats picked up a 4-3 overtime win during the most recent meeting one year ago.
New Hampshire went 8-11 overall last season and 4-4 in America East action. The squad returns a host of key players for 2016, including 2015 leading scorer Lindsey Nerbonne (12 goals, two assists, 26 points) but will adjust for the departure of starting goalkeeper Melissa Rize (1,327 minutes, 2.69 GAA, .638 save percentage).
The Minutewomen and Wildcats share a common connection in UNH assistant coach Hannah Prince, who was a four-year standout with the Minutewomen from 2010-13. Prince helped Massachusetts to NCAA appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2013. She enters her second season on the Memorial Field sidelines alongside 26th-year program leader Robin Balducci.
The Wildcat Classic Field
The Wildcat Classic features for prominent NCAA Division I field hockey programs in 2016, including Boston University, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Northwestern. All four teams begin the season ranked among the top-30 in the nation according to the NFHCA Preseason Coaches Poll.
Northwestern earned the highest ranking at No. 16 while Boston University sits one spot behind NU. UMass picked up 23rd while UNH sits in 28th.
Minutewomen Start Season Receiving Votes For NFHCA Top-20
University of Massachusetts field hockey begins the 2016 season receiving votes for the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Top-20 Coaches Poll. The Minutewomen took in 69 points for 23rd in the nation. They are the highest-ranked Atlantic 10 squad entering 2016, with Richmond next in 36th with four points.
UMass Picked Second In Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll
University of Massachusetts field hockey earned second place in the 2016 Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches Poll, only three points behind the leader, Richmond. The Spiders picked up 76 points and four of the first place votes. UMass finished polling with 73 points and four first place votes.
Saint Joseph's took the final first place vote and 64 total points for third. Davidson and Lock Haven tied for fourth with 45 points. Saint Francis (40), VCU (31), La Salle (21) and Saint Louis (10) rounded out the poll.
Three Minutewomen Tabbed A-10 Preseason All-Conference
Senior Izzie Delario and juniors Sarah Hawkshaw and Melanie Kreusch collected Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference Team. It marks the second consecutive season this trio of Minutewomen appeared on the preseason all-conference team.
Delario led the squad in points (26) and assists (12) as a junior during 2015, when she was named a NFHCA Third Team All-American.
Kreusch paced the Minutewomen in goals (11) and only finished one behind Delario in the points column. The 2015 Atlantic 10 Championship Most Outstanding Player begins her junior season with 49 career points on 21 goals and seven assists.
Hawkshaw, the team's starting center midfielder, poured in nine goals and assisted on two more as a sophomore for a personal-best 20 points on the year. She returns as an NFHCA All-Region and Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection one season ago.
Fresh Face In The Cage
University of Massachusetts field hockey features a new starter in the cage for the first time since the 2012 season in redshirt junior Emily Hazard.
Hazard, a Highlands Ranch, Colo., native saw limited time behind previous starter Sam Carlino over the last two seasons. She enters the year with 24 minutes, 15 seconds in the cage and a career 2.89 goals-against average.
