The College of Maine’s subject hockey workforce 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 report 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 workers introduced in eight gamers and 4 of them are transfers who’ve introduced a mean of 54 ½ video games of expertise to this system.
They’re from 4 totally different nations 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 workforce,” stated graduate pupil midfielder Bhreagh Kennedy from Skowhegan. “I like enjoying with them and seeing their abilities and their perspective and listening to and absorbing what they’ve gained from their careers.”
Poppy Lambert, a graduate pupil middle and three-time All-America East choice from New Zealand, agreed.
“It’s thrilling. They’re bringing rather a lot to the sphere and to the workforce,” Lambert stated.
Kennedy and Lambert completely get pleasure from being on a workforce with gamers from 11 totally different nations.
“As a Mainer, enjoying with all these women from totally different nations has been superb. I’m very fortunate to name them my teammates,” stated Kennedy.
“It’s unimaginable. It’s a unbelievable alternative to play with folks raised elsewhere who play totally different types of subject 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 workforce All-American in 2022 and is seven targets away from tying Kelly Newton’s school-record 57 profession targets.
Babineau stated along with their ability and expertise, the transfers have introduced toughness to the workforce that was missing a yr in the past.
“They’re bodily robust,” stated Babineau.
Lambert, who was on the preseason all-conference workforce, will workforce with Sacker to anchor the again line. They would be the middle backs.
“She and Poppy are working very well collectively,” stated Babineau. “They’re very educated and produce a pleasant calmness and presence to the sphere. 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 a lot better job defending her blistering shot off penalty corners.
Sacker, who had three targets and three assists for Kent State in 2023 and performed in 54 profession video games there, additionally has a robust shot, based on Babineau, so that may give the Black Bears an alternative 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 vital, particularly since they misplaced main scorer and second-team All-America East ahead Mallory Mackesy (12 targets, 8 assists) to Central Michigan and No. 2 point-producer Tereza Holubcova (5 & 7) to commencement.
“If we could be higher in these two areas, it can 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 exterior 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 based on Babineau.
Freshman Connie Davies from Wales and senior Avani Gill are exterior backs.
Gill and Katsube are two of the six Canadians on the roster.
The midfield will likely be very seasoned and stable.
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 targets 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 objective 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 targets and two assists because the workforce’s No. 4 scorer and was chosen to the America East All-Rookie workforce.
Junior Kate Richardson from Scotland (3 & 1) was chosen to the AE all-tourney workforce and switch Fogarty was a primary workforce Division III All-American at Rochester the place she scored 13 targets and added seven assists in 21 video games final season.
Fogarty has “great pace” based on Babineau and may be very expert with the ball.
Freshman Emily Chisholm is a speedster, based on Babineau, and junior Taylor Stanford, who performed in 13 video games a yr in the past, is an alternative choice up entrance together with freshman Ground Dijkhuizen from The Netherlands.
Sophomore Jayde Temby from Australia is again in objective after sharing the place with Mallory Drayer a yr in the past. Drayer has graduated so Babineau introduced in graduate pupil Rozarie Mrazova from the Czech Republic to interchange her.
Babineau stated Temby has proven vital enchancment after receiving worthwhile expertise final season, posting a 2.51 goals-against common and .657 save share in 13 video games.
The UMaine coach feels she has a a lot deeper workforce this season and she or he sees an enormous distinction in follow from final yr to this yr.
“The caliber and stage of our practices is far larger,” stated Babineau.
Lambert and Kennedy additionally stated being picked fourth within the preseason ballot will present motivation.
“We have now rather a lot to show. Some folks may be shocked how (nicely) we carry out this yr,” stated Kennedy.
“I like being the underdog,” stated Lambert. “It’s a great place to be in. Final yr was a little bit of a rebuilding yr. We’re excited to point out how onerous 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, Sick. on Aug. 30.
