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The University of Maine field hockey team will play Northeastern in the first round of the America East tournament on Friday, Nov. 5. The teams are both 4-1 in conference play, with each of their losses coming against first place Boston University, the team that will host the conference tournament. The Black Bears and Northeastern are tied for second right now, but the teams will determine who goes into the tournament in second place, when they meet Saturday on Morse field.
“Ultimately we know whether we’re two or three we have to play Northeastern in the first round,” said head coach Terry Kix.
Boston University defeated Northeastern over the weekend 2-0 for the rights to home-field advantage for the four team tournament next weekend. The loss for Northeastern was their first conference loss since 2002. They have won two straight conference championship games, both against the Black Bears. Kix said that she and her team were surprised to see that BU had won.
“It’s surprising in the fact that Northeastern hasn’t lost a conference game in a long time,” she said.
The Black Bears knew the Terriers were a good team, but they did know exactly how good.
“After our game against Boston University,” said Kix, “we as a staff thought Boston University is either really good or we just had a little bit of an off day.”
Kix believes in her team’s chances against Northeastern. She says she would actually prefer to play the two-time defending conference champions in the semifinals. She feels her team matches up well with the Terriers.
“When you’re looking in a tournament setting, the ultimate goal is to be the last one standing,” said Kix. “[BU is] very difficult to match up against. I think Saturday is very important for our University of Maine team.”
Saturday’s game is scheduled for noon. The Black Bears will host Colgate on Sunday at noon. Colgate is a nonconference game for the Black Bears but an important one that happens to be sandwiched in between the two Northeastern games. Kix knows her team has their work cut out for them, not only against Northeastern but against Colgate as well.
“They’re not ranked,” she said, “but they’re having a good year.”
The four teams competing for the 2004 America East Championship are BU, Maine, Northeastern, and either Albany, New Hampshire, or Vermont. The conference champions receive an automatic bid into the 16-team NCAA tournament. Although the Black Bears have been in the America East tournament the last four seasons, a trip to the national tournament this season would be the first one in their history.
The Black Bears overall record is 12-4. The National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I poll was released Tuesday, and the Black Bears are ranked 22nd in the nation. Boston University moved into the top 20 with their win over Northeastern. The Terriers are 11-5 and ranked 17th. The Huskies are 14-3 overall, and they are ranked 12th.
The first-round game against the Huskies is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Jack Berry Field in Cambridge, Mass.
Bangor Daily News