The Huskies begin a three-game homestand this weekend, when they welcome Massachusetts to Sweeney Field on Friday afternoon (2 p.m.), before a date with Maine on Sunday afternoon (2 p.m.).

Northeastern faced Massachusetts at Amherst, Mass. last year and lost, 4-0, to the then-No. 11 Minutewomen. The Huskies haven't faced Maine since 2004, the last year Northeastern was a member of the America East. The Huskies defeated the Black Bears, 2-1, in the America East Tournament that year. Northeastern went on to win the tournament and eventually advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES

Northeastern traveled to Syracuse, N.Y. last weekend for a pair of games against Northwestern and the host Orange. It appeared as if the trip would start off on the right foot, as two quick goals from junior midfielder Kaela Barker and sophomore midfielder Allison Conti put the Huskies up, 2-0, over Northwestern. However, the Wildcats responded with four unanswered goals and escaped with a 4-2 win.

The next day the Huskies had a tall task on their hands, as they battled No. 8 Syracuse. The Orange scored two goals in the first half before senior tri-captain Anne-Rieke Stuhlmann answered with a goal at the 20:31 mark to cut the deficit in half. Unfortunately for Northeastern, that's as close as it would get. Syracuse tacked on two more goals to win, 4-1.

Highlights for the Huskies included Barker's three points (1 G, 1 A) and Lizzie Priest's 18-save weekend, which was best among CAA goaltenders. The impact freshman of the weekend was forward Lindsay Bennett, who led all Husky rookies with four shots.

NOTES

• The Huskies are 14-15-3 all-time against Massachusetts. Husky head coach Cheryl Murtagh is 14-8-2 all-time against the Minutewomen.

• The Huskies have won four of their last five home openers, with the one loss coming last season against then-No. 3 Syracuse.

• Sweeney Field has seen a lot of success over the years, as Northeastern is 63-26 since beginning play there in 2001. The Huskies were 5-3 last season at home.

SCOUTING THE MINUTEWOMEN

Like Northeastern, Massachusetts opened its season with a pair of losses. The Minutewomen hosted No. 9 Boston College on Aug. 27 and lost a close one to the Eagles, 1-0. On Aug. 29, No. 17 Indiana visited Amherst and came away with a 2-1 victory. Senior forward Katie Kelly scored the lone goal for UMass.

Massachusetts has a large freshman class, yet several key players return from last season. A strongpoint for the Minutewomen is at goaltender, as junior Alesha Widdall returns between the pipes. Widdall is coming off back-to-back first-team All-Conference seasons in the Atlantic 10. She was an All-American in 2008.

On the attack, the two players to watch for will be senior forward Katie Kelly and senior midfielder Mikaela Potts. Kelly has the lone goal this season for the Minutewomen and led the team in goals last season, tallying 11 goals and six assists for 28 points.

Potts, a two-time All-American, led the team in points last season with 31 (10-11-31). She is an important two-way player for Massachusetts, and is looking for her third-straight All-America honor.

SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS

Maine opened up its 2010 campaign with a pair of 3-0 results. The Black Bears defeated Providence at home on Aug. 27 before they fell on the road to No. 5 Connecticut on Aug. 29.

The Black Bears' most dramatic win of the season, however, came this past Thursday, when a Stephanie Gardiner goal with 12 seconds remaining propelled Maine to a 2-1 home win over Michigan.

Gardiner and junior forward Jocelyn Mitchell already have two goals to lead the team, followed by junior forward Kelly Newton, who tallied a goal in the Michigan win, and senior midfielder Marie Dineen, who has an assist.

In the cage, junior Brittany Fleck already has one shutout and has given up just four goals this year. The Black Bears only have one true back on their roster, and defenders have allowed 45 shots in three games. It will be up to several experienced midfielders to help stymie the Husky attack.

GoNU.TV

Today's contest will be broadcast live on GoNU.TV. If you aren't able to watch today's game live, GoNU.TV will archive today's game, as well as every game streamed on GoNU.TV. Live stats and a public chat forum are also added features to GoNU.TV's service.