Bears confident of wins despite loss of scoring UMaine opens today against Sacred Heart

ORONO – It appears that the University of Maine’s field hockey team is rebuilding, having graduated its top two scorers off last year’s 12-7 team along with two key midfielders and goalie Jamie Morin.

But senior forward Shaunessy Saucier of Old Town is quick to point out that there were plenty of question marks at the outset about last year’s team due to significant graduation losses “but we always seem to come through.”

“Our record may be deceiving this year but we’re going to be a good team when it’s time to be a good team. When we play conference games and in the America East championships this year, we’ll be strong,” said senior midfielder Katie Flaherty who is coming off knee surgery and will be sidelined for at least a few more weeks.

In addition to the new faces, there could be a different style of play.

“We’ve got a lot more offensive players as opposed to defensive players,” said senior fullback Meagan Connolly. “Right now we’re testing our new system which is more offensive [than the ones they’ve used in the past]. We’re going to give it a roll and see how it goes. Hopefully, we’re going to be successful. It looks good so far but we haven’t played a game with it yet.

“Our team is really different from last year. It’s very talented and we’re going to do what works best for us. But against harder teams, we’ll probably play more defensively just to have that little extra security,” Connolly added.

“I’m glad they feel we can score more. It’s good to have that confidence,” said 15th year head coach Terry Kix, who has 13 Mainers on her roster. “We’re young. We have to get better every game but we have a lot of potential. Our offensive corner unit is very strong if we can just draw corners. We have some new, exciting players. Once they learn our system and get comfortable in it, we have potential to score some goals.”

Augusta sophomore Rebecca Giroux appeared in just one game a year ago while backing up Morin but Kix and the Bears feel confident she can get the job done in the cage.

“We played a lot of spring ball this year and she got a lot of experience,” said Connolly. “She played pretty well for us. We’re pretty confident with her back there.”

Kix said Giroux “did a wonderful job this spring. She doesn’t have any true game experience. It’s going to take some time. Hopefully, we’ll put a strong defensive unit around her to make her job a little easier.”

Freshman Maygan Cassarino will also see some time in the cage, according to Kix.

Although Rachael Hilgar (9 goals, 7 assists) and Traci Rainone (7 & 3) have departed, Old Town senior forward Kacey Spencer scored eight goals last season while Connolly and Saucier had five goals and five assists apiece.

Connolly was an All-America East second team choice.

Junior Kirsten Costa, redshirt freshman Brooke Anderson and Hampden sophomore Christie Mosley will also play up front.

Junior Gina Legge, sophomores Erin Reusch, Amy Zdrojesky and Kristen Healey and impressive freshman Kim MacDonald will join Flaherty in the midfield.

Sweeper Joanna Fernandes (2 goals, 5 assists) and Connolly will anchor the defense with junior Jill Rosick, redshirt freshman Jessie Corson and freshman Nicole Emery complementing them.

Legge will also see some duty in the back.

Maine, picked second in the America East preseason poll, opens at home against Sacred Heart today at 11 a.m.