The University of Maine’s field hockey team is a diverse bunch this season.
The Black Bears will have players from 10 different countries this season as it looks to replace four of its top seven scorers and all but one of its starting backs.
The roster includes team members from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, England, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the U.S. and Wales.
“It’s going to be an interesting chemistry,” said Josette Babineau, who is in her 19th season as the head coach. “It’s a fun fact for the year. So far, it has been good with all of their rapport.”
The team has been working out, but the first official practice is on Friday.
Babineau has nine newcomers on this year’s squad.
“And some of the players are coming to campus here for the first time,” the coach said. “I think they’re going to be good fits for our program.”
The newcomers include backs Louisa Plaehn from Germany, Julia Pieters from the Netherlands, Nicole Kowalewski from New Zealand and Sophie Maquestiau from Belgium along with forwards Leyden Churchill and Sophia Miller from New Hampshire, Martha Barratt from England and Allison Sweetser from Falmouth and midfielder Gabrielle Sousa from Farmingdale.
Among the returnees are five Canadians, three Americans, forward Floor Dijkhuizen from the Netherlands, back Eloise Penty from England, goalkeepers Jayde Termby from Australia and Rozarie Mrazova from Czechia, and back Connie Davies from Wales.
Penty is the only returning back, so that is going to be an area of emphasis and Babineau said she expects newcomers to fill a lot of the spots.
“That part of it is going to be a progression, I think,” said Babineau.
Penty had a goal and two assists a year ago while playing in all 20 games.
Poppy Lambert, a four-time All-America East pick including a three-time first teamer and the school’s co-leading all-time goal scorer with 57, will be hard to replace in the back.
Senior Olivia Geniti, who had a team-high nine goals last season to go with five assists, was an All-America East first team selection last year and headlines an experienced midfield. She was a preseason all-league choice.
Senior Zoe Furber, junior Brynn Dzengelewski and sophomore Dijkhuizen are improved midfielders Babineaiu will be counting on.
Furber had four goals and three assists last season and Dzengelewski had two goals and an assist.
Junior Saylor Kuefler is the top returning scorer among forwards after notching four goals and three assists last year. Senior Maeve Fogarty had two goals in her first season at UMaine after transferring from the University of Rochester.
Senior Taylor Katsube and sophomore Emily Chisholm are back after playing a handful of games apiece up front a year ago.
Babineau said freshman Barratt has a lot of quality experience and could have an immediate impact up front.
“Up front and in midfield with the returners, there is some stability,” said Babineau who also pointed out that both goalkeepers are back.
The Black Bears, who won back-to-back regular season championships in 2021 and 2022 and earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance by also winning the league tournament in 2021, have been picked to finish fifth among six teams in the preseason coaches poll.
The Black Bears are coming off uncharacteristic seasons in America East, going 3-3 in conference games a year ago and 3-5 the previous season. They did win a playoff game each year.
They were 11-9 overall last year and 8-12 the previous season.
“We’re going to have to keep progressing week by week and see how people are doing in the roles that we need, especially in the back,” said Babineau. “That’s why we were able to be successful in the past — our backfield and the roles those players played both offensively and defensively.”
Babineau, who is assisted by Michelle Simpson and Leslie Smith, has scheduled exhibition games at Boston University on Aug. 14 and at UMass on Aug. 16 before opening the season by hosting Boston College on Friday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
