FIELD HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
The Vermont field hockey team hops right back on the conference play train Friday afternoon when it travels to Maine to take on the Black Bears.
 
Friday's matchup gets underway at 1 p.m.
 
MEDIA COVERAGE
All the action can be seen live for free on Americaeast.TV.
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Video | Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
Vermont dropped two tough decisions last weekend – a 1-0 shootout loss to Monmouth on Friday and then a 3-0 defeat to defending conference champion Stanford on Saturday. Sierra Espeland made 11 saves over the two games and posted her first shutout of the season against Monmouth. Peppe Haantjes recorded her second career defensive save against the Hawks, as well.
 
ESPELAND'S STRONG START
Goalkeeper Sierra Espeland leads the America East in saves per game with 5.00 per contest. She's played every second of the 260 minutes so far this season and enters the weekend with a 2.07 goals against average.
 
SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS
Maine enters Friday's matchup with a 2-2 record but did pick up back-to-back league wins over UMass Lowell and Cal last weekend. First-year Poppy Lambert was named America East Rookie of the Week after scoring a pair of goals in those two victories. The Black Bears were picked to finish second in the America East Preseason Poll.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Friday will be the 45^th all-time matchup between Vermont and Maine – the Catamounts' most against any opponent. Maine leads the series 33-10-1 but UVM picked up a 3-0 win back in 2018 and dropped a close 2-1 decision last season.