‘D’ sparks 8-3 start for UM field hockey team

ORONO – The University of Maine football and men’s ice hockey teams aren’t the only nationally ranked teams on the Orono campus.

Despite having their only two 2003 All-America East selections graduate (Rebecca Ouellet, Karen Magno), the field hockey team is tied for 17th in the country with Harvard, which it has beaten 2-0.

Coach Terry Kix’s Black Bears, 30-10 over the past two seasons, are 8-3 with one of the losses coming to No. 8 Michigan 4-3 in overtime.

The Bears have outscored their opponents 27-13.

“If we were .500 after our first 10 games, I would have felt we did a good job. I’m really proud of how we’ve played, especially against the top teams in the country,” said Kix. “We’ve played tremendous team ball. We’ve had real balanced scoring and the team defense has been excellent.”

The team defense, according to Kix, has been sparked by a deep group of hard-working forwards.

“They put so much pressure on the opposing backs, it forces them to make errors. When our forwards work that hard, it’s easy for our midfielders and backs to defend,” said Kix.

Junior midfielder Katie Flaherty, one of four Winslow natives and 15 Mainers on the roster, agreed with Kix.

“With the forwards coming back to help, it has made a huge difference,” said Flaherty. “It helps us midfielders intercept balls.”

Outside right attacker Traci Rainone said the forwards take pride in their defense.

“As soon as the ball transitions to defense, we want to be the first line of defense. Then if we come up with the ball, we attack right away,” said Rainone.

The Bears have four players with four or more goals and seven with at least two.

Leading scorer Rachael Hilgar, a senior who has five goals and four assists, said opponents “have to worry about everyone, not just one or two people.”

Junior left defender Meagan Connolly has five goals as she comes up to shoot off corners.

“Our offensive corner unit has executed brilliantly,” said Kix. “We take what the defense gives us.”

Rainone has four goals and two assists; Old Town’s Kasey Spencer has four goals, and her former Old Town High School teammate and fellow forward Shaunessy Saucier has two goals and three assists as does sweeper Liz Mendell of Palmyra. Midfielder Amie Dubois of Winslow has two goals and an assist.

Dubois, Flaherty, and Winthrop’s Emily Dooling play the midfield while Mendell is the backbone of the defense, according to Kix.

Junior Jamie Morin of Winslow has inherited the goaltending job from the graduated Jaye Lance and has four shutouts, a 1.09 goals-against average and an .833 save percentage.

“She has done a tremendous job,” said Rainone.

Spencer said having so many Maine girls on the team is exciting.

“We’re the only [Division I] team with Maine kids,” said Spencer.