12 recruits to help UM women’s soccer team

University of Maine Coach Moira Buckley is expecting 12 newcomers to report to the Orono campus Aug. 26 to join forces with players who’ve worked long and hard to bring the women’s soccer program to full varsity status.

Recruiting in Maine and out-of-state, Buckley has four Maine players and eight others to complement the returning roster that recorded an 8-5-1 season as a club team last fall. The team becomes an NCAA Division I program this fall.

Maine’s newest varsity team gets its first real test early.

After the preseason tryout for all incoming and returning players the week of Aug. 26, a full week of training is scheduled before classes start on Sept. 4. That Saturday, Sept. 8, Maine opens the season in Kingston, R.I., playing the United States Military Academy (West Point). Sunday, the Black Bears take on the University of Rhode Island.

Buckley’s recruiting has to be considered a success since she’s bringing to campus All-American and All-Maine star Hilary Roy of Veazie, a sweeper for Orono High School; All-Mainer Rhonda Pelkey, a forward from Bangor; fullback Crystal Ash of Ashland; and fullback Kate Sherwood of Hampden.

A second All-American joins the Black Bears this fall as Nancy Hutchins transfers in from Becker Junior College of Worcester, Mass., where she earned JC All-America honors as a sweeper.

Three Massachusetts players also join the squad.

Christina Contardo, an incoming freshman from Chelmsford, Mass., is a forward/midfielder who was selected for the Northeast Regional Camp. Goalkeeper Nicole Ricci of Andover, Mass., has played five years for the Massachusetts state team and was voted the Most Valuable Player at the Ottawa (Canada) Soccer Tournament in 1989. Nicole MacMillan is a forward from Arlington, Mass.

New Hampshire state team member Tara Truelson of Nottingham is a midfielder who captained her high school squad; incoming goalkeeper Marisa More is from Durham, N.H.; and midfielder Elaine Kristo of Arlington, Mass., earned her school’s Most Valuable Player award for the 1989 season.

The 12th recruit is Nicole Kimball of Anchorage, Alaska, a sweeper/midfielder who played for the Alaska state championship club team.

The major loss this season will be leading scorer Karen Larsen who is studying abroad, but will be eligible her senior year in 1991.

Buckley said much of the recruiting involved “going out and telling people about Maine; sending out information to coaches about the state of Maine; and sending letters to selected players up and down the east coast from Maine to Virginia.”

She was pleased with the many responses, and noted that while she lost a couple of people who chose to go to other schools such as Boston College and Holy Cross, those who decided to come to Maine saw it as an opportunity worth taking.

“The people coming here saw this as a chance to play Division I soccer and build the program,” Buckley said. “They knew they could step right in and help. Some didn’t want to do that. Some wanted to go to schools that already have a strong soccer tradition. Here, we’re starting our own.”

Buckley is anxious to see her recruits and returnees together. “We’ll have a good test our first two games against West Point and Rhode Island,” she said. “They’re good Division I teams who get no real recognition, but they will give us a good indication of how we will do against Division I teams. Our biggest disadvantage will be lack of experience.”