The College of Maine’s area hockey crew was picked to complete fourth amongst seven groups within the America East preseason ballot after ending an uncharacteristic sixth a yr in the past.
UMaine was 8-12 general and its 3-5 convention file marked the primary time it had a shedding mark in America East since 2012.
The Black Bears received the common season title in 2022 and 2021 and shared the championship with now-departed Monmouth in 2020-21.
Head coach Josette Babineau, assistants Michelle Simpson and Leslie Smith-Abplanalp and the gamers are out to show final season was an aberration.
The Black Bear teaching employees introduced in eight gamers and 4 of them are transfers who’ve introduced a median of 54 ½ video games of expertise to this system.
They’re from 4 totally different international locations which brings the variety of nations represented on the roster to 11.
Three are graduate college students together with former Kent State fullback Alexandra Sacker from England and midfielder Victoria Tinghitella from Argentina; ex-Quinnipiac midfielder Micaela Grajales from Uruguay and ahead Maeve Fogarty, a junior who performed on the College of Rochester and is from St. Louis, Mo.
“They’ve been nice additions to our crew,” stated graduate scholar midfielder Bhreagh Kennedy from Skowhegan. “I really like enjoying with them and seeing their expertise and their perspective and listening to and absorbing what they’ve gained from their careers.”
Poppy Lambert, a graduate scholar heart and three-time All-America East choice from New Zealand, agreed.
“It’s thrilling. They’re bringing loads to the sector and to the crew,” Lambert stated.
Kennedy and Lambert totally get pleasure from being on a crew with gamers from 11 totally different international locations.
“As a Mainer, enjoying with all these women from totally different international locations has been superb. I’m very fortunate to name them my teammates,” stated Kennedy.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s a implausible alternative to play with folks raised elsewhere who play totally different kinds of area hockey. We get the possibility to return collectively and it’s actually superior,” stated Lambert.
Lambert was the convention’s Defensive Participant of the Yr and a second crew All-American in 2022 and is seven objectives away from tying Kelly Newton’s school-record 57 profession objectives.
Babineau stated along with their ability and expertise, the transfers have introduced toughness to the crew that was missing a yr in the past.
“They’re bodily sturdy,” stated Babineau.
Lambert, who was on the preseason all-conference crew, will crew with Sacker to anchor the again line. They would be the heart backs.
“She and Poppy are working very well collectively,” stated Babineau. “They’re very educated and convey a pleasant calmness and presence to the sector. They’ve been directing numerous the midfielders in entrance of them.”
Lambert, a 22-goal scorer two years in the past, scored 5 final season to go along with three assists as groups did a significantly better job defending her blistering shot off penalty corners.
Sacker, who had three objectives and three assists for Kent State in 2023 and performed in 54 profession video games there, additionally has a strong shot, in keeping with Babineau, so that may give the Black Bears another choice as they attempt to enhance their proficiency on penalty corners.
Babineau stated elevating their penalty nook scoring and getting extra offensive manufacturing from the midfielders will likely be necessary, particularly since they misplaced main scorer and second-team All-America East ahead Mallory Mackesy (12 objectives, 8 assists) to Central Michigan and No. 2 point-producer Tereza Holubcova (5 & 7) to commencement.
“If we might be higher in these two areas, it’s going to assist distribute the scoring and so we received’t be counting on only one or two gamers,” stated Babineau. “Our scoring goes to have to return from totally different areas.”
The beginning outdoors backs will likely be skillful sophomore Eloise Penty, who appeared in 18 video games and had 4 assists, junior Taylor Katsube, who has made a pleasant transition from ahead to the again line in keeping with Babineau.
Freshman Connie Davies from Wales and senior Avani Gill are outdoors backs.
Gill and Katsube are two of the six Canadians on the roster.
The midfield will likely be very seasoned and strong.
Tinghitella performed in 69 video games at Kent State, Kennedy has 52 video games beneath her belt at UMaine and Grajales appeared in 51 video games at Quinnipiac.
Kennedy has 5 objectives and 5 assists over her final two seasons; Grajales had 4 & 5 in 2023 and ‘22 and Tinghitella had seven assists throughout that span.
Juniors Olivia Geniti (1 aim in 2023) and Zoe Furber (1 help) and sophomore Brynn Dzengelewski (2 & 2) may also see enjoying time within the midifield.
Newport sophomore midfielder Brianna Townsend was a redshirt final yr.
Up entrance, sophomore Saylor Kuefler had 5 objectives and two assists because the crew’s No. 4 scorer and was chosen to the America East All-Rookie crew.
Junior Kate Richardson from Scotland (3 & 1) was chosen to the AE all-tourney crew and switch Fogarty was a primary crew Division III All-American at Rochester the place she scored 13 objectives and added seven assists in 21 video games final season.
Fogarty has “super pace” in keeping with Babineau and could be very expert with the ball.
Freshman Emily Chisholm is a speedster, in keeping with Babineau, and junior Taylor Stanford, who performed in 13 video games a yr in the past, is another choice up entrance together with freshman Ground Dijkhuizen from The Netherlands.
Sophomore Jayde Temby from Australia is again in aim after sharing the place with Mallory Drayer a yr in the past. Drayer has graduated so Babineau introduced in graduate scholar Rozarie Mrazova from the Czech Republic to exchange her.
Babineau stated Temby has proven vital enchancment after receiving precious expertise final season, posting a 2.51 goals-against common and .657 save proportion in 13 video games.
The UMaine coach feels she has a a lot deeper crew this season and he or she sees an enormous distinction in observe from final yr to this yr.
“The caliber and degree of our practices is way increased,” stated Babineau.
Lambert and Kennedy additionally stated being picked fourth within the preseason ballot will present motivation.
“Now we have loads to show. Some folks could be shocked how (properly) we carry out this yr,” stated Kennedy.
“I really like being the underdog,” stated Lambert. “It’s a superb place to be in. Final yr was a little bit of a rebuilding yr. We’re excited to indicate how exhausting we’ve been working.”
UMaine will play an exhibition recreation towards Brown in Durham, N.H. on Sunday and can open the season towards 2022 and ‘23 NCAA runner-up and 2021 NCAA titleist Northwestern in Evanston, Ailing. on Aug. 30.