UConn Huskies face UNH Wildcats and Villanova Wildcats this weekend

The No. 5 UConn field hockey team is set for a home-and-away weekend, taking on No. 16 New Hampshire on Friday night before traveling to Villanova for a Big East matchup on Sunday.

The Huskies – who are No. 1 in the nation in RPI – enter the weekend with a perfect 7-0 record and three wins over top 25 competition. The UNH Wildcats travel to Storrs sporting a 4-3 record on the season, with two of the three losses coming in close games against ranked opponents.

“With six minutes to go in the UNH – Syracuse game, it was 2-0 New Hampshire,” UConn Coach Nancy Stevens said. “And Syracuse is undefeated and No. 2 in the country, so New Hampshire has proven that they can play with the top teams and it’s going to be a tough challenge for us.”

UConn will rely heavily on the play of Big East Defensive Player of the Week Louisa Boddy, as well as on Big East Weekly Honor Roll forward Chloe Hunnable during the weekend. Boddy netted a hat-trick last Saturday against Rutgers and is responsible for taking the shots on penalty corners for the Huskies.

Despite having a quiet homestand against Rutgers and Yale last weekend, forward Marie Elena Bolles is always a threat to score for UConn. She leads the team with seven goals on the season.

After taking on UNH, the Huskies will travel to Villanova for their second conference game of the year, looking to keep their undefeated Big East record intact. Villanova enters the weekend at 4-4. They lost their conference opener against Syracuse last Friday.

The Huskies will have to be sure to keep an eye on sophomore forward Leah High, who earned Big East Weekly Honor Roll mention for her efforts last weekend. High netted three goals in two games against the Orange and Kent State.

Game times are set for 7 p.m. Friday at the Sherman Family Sports Complex and 12 p.m. on Sunday.