ORONO – Last year was a breakthrough season for the University of Maine field hockey team.

Not only did the Bears go 15-4, they also made their first appearance in an America East championship game.

If the Bears are to go a step further this season, they will have to replace a big chunk of their offense.

Third-team All-American and first-team All-America East choice Tara Bedard, their leading scorer a year ago with 11 goals and 14 assists, has departed along with fellow All-America East first-teamer Jen Johnstone (4 goals, 6 assists), Kristy Ferran (7 goals, 3 assists) and All-America East second-teamer Kim Leo (1 goal, 8 assists).

“We’ll have more of a balanced attack this season,” said 13th-year head coach Terry Kix. “We have numerous players who are capable of putting the ball in the cage.

“We’ve very fast and explosive. We’re going to be a tough team to play against. We won’t rely on one or two people and we feel very comfortable taking what the defense gives us and taking advantage of our opponents’ weaknesses.”

The Bears started their season by beating Davidson 3-1 and losing to Temple 2-1 in Philadelphia last weekend, generating 35 shots on goal in the two games.

“We have a lot of potential,” said senior midfielder and second-team All-AE selection Karly Bundy, who already has two goals after scoring three a year ago. “The team is looking great, better than people would have expected right now.”

Junior Rachael Hilgar, the team’s second-leading goal scorer last season with eight, and five-goal scorer Jana Ouellette, also a senior, are the two most experienced forwards and they will be joined up front by junior Traci Rainone and Old Town natives Kasey Spencer and Shaunessy Saucier, both sophomores.

Bundy and juniors Amie Dubois (5 goals, 3 assists a year ago) and Emily Dooling will patrol the midfield. Dooling didn’t register a point last year but already has a goal and two assists.

Seniors Karyn Magno (4 goals, 2 assists in 2002) and Rebecca Ouellet and sophomore Meagan Connolly, an All-AE rookie team choice, will anchor the back line. Junior Liz Mendell of Palmyra, the starting sweeper, has been lost for a month due to injury so sophomore Katie Flaherty probably will fill the void.

Jaye Lance (11-4, 1.32 goals-against average) was the All-AE first-team goalie last season.

“She’s awesome,” said Ouellette. “It’s hard to score on her in practice and that makes it easier for us to score in games.”

Junior Jaclyn Comeau and redshirt freshman Jill Rosick will see duty in the back while freshmen Kirsten Costa and Gina Legge will provide depth up front and in the midfield, respectively.

SCHEDULE

September

5 ? Fairfield, 3 p.m.

7 ? Siena, noon

14 ? Quinnipiac noon

20 ? at Georgetown, noon

21 ? at Towson, noon

27 ? at Rhode Island, noon

28 ? at Providence, noon

October

1 ? at Dartmouth, 3 p.m.

4 ? vs. Ohio State at College Park, Md., 2 p.m.

5 ? at Maryland-Baltimore County, 2 p.m.

11 ? Boston University, 2 p.m.

13 ? Sacred Heart, 2 p.m.

18 ? at Northeastern, noon

19 ? at Colgate, 1 p.m.

24 ? at New Hampshire, 3 p.m.

26 ? Vermont, noon

November

1 ? Albany, 11 a.m.