ORONO – They have a new coach, six new players, their most challenging schedule ever and a new optimism.

Interim head coach Lauren Steblen is excited about her University of Maine women’s hockey team, which opens the season at home this weekend against power Mercyhurst College.

The 26-year-old Steblen, who was Guy Perron’s top assistant the previous two seasons, has inherited a schedule that includes eight games against teams currently ranked in the top five in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll: No. 2 New Hampshire, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 4 St. Lawrence and No. 5 Mercyhurst.

Four of those games will be among Maine’s first five.

“It’s great for us,” said Steblen. “The early schedule will really set the tone for the season. And the schedule won’t ease up so we’ve got to show up ready to play every weekend. That’s the way this team needs to be,” added Steblen, who will be assisted by Meghan Hunter and Meghan (Smith) MacDonald.

The Bears return four of their top five scorers, four defensemen and all three goalies off last year’s 17-9-6 team which lost to UNH 6-0 in the Hockey East semifinals.

“I’d like to be in the top 10 consistently,” said Steblen, who feels her team can contend for one of eight NCAA Tournament berths.

“The number one focus is we want to get to the final game in Hockey East [Tournament],” said Steblen.

The Bears have added five new forwards in freshmen Taryn Peacock, Abby Barton, Jenna Ouellette and Amy Stech along with sophomore Robyn Law, who transferred from Mercyhurst.

Law is the sister of Maine senior defenseman and co-captain Kelly Law, an All-HE first-team selection last year.

“She’s going to help us a lot this year,” said senior left wing and co-captain Sonia Corriveau.

“We’re going to be much faster than last year and we’ll be much better skills-wise,” said Steblen. “I think we’re going to pick up a lot offensively.”

The other newcomer is freshman defenseman Elyce Thomas.

Maine’s newcomers will be expected to contribute right away because the Bears have just 20 players.

“I think all the freshmen are going to do a great job,” said senior winger Kim MacElhaney. “They’ve really adjusted quickly to our systems.”

Senior Brigitte Laflamme (14 goals, 17 assists) was Maine’s leading scorer last year and she will be on a line with Corriveau (7 & 18), her long-time linemate before and during their days at Maine.

“They move the puck and communicate so well,” said Steblen.

Senior Kate Sunstrum (3 & 3) is a possibility at right wing with them.

Center Robyn Law and sophomore left wing Vanessa Vani (11 & 13) will be joined on a line by Peacock

“That’s a very talented line,” said Steblen.

Barton and Ouellette will be center the other lines with seniors Karine Senecal (2 & 7), MacElhaney (2 & 3), junior Pam Patterson (3 & 1) and freshman Stech on the wings.

The versatile Senecal can play defense if needed.

Kelly Law (7 & 18), juniors Kim Meagher (2 & 7) and Jenna Cowan (2 & 5) and sophomore Chantal Jaillet (1 & 5) will man the blue line as will Thomas.

“They’re going to log a lot of ice time and that will really help them get [involved] in games,” said Steblen. “I think they’re going to be phenomenal.”

Sophomores Genevieve Turgeon (9-8-4, 2.31 goals-against average, .889 save percentage), and Lundy Day (2-0-1, 1.81, .891) and senior Rachel Gettings (6-1-1, 1.47, .926) are back in goal.

We have a goalie coach this year [MacDonald] and that’s going to help them,” said Corriveau.

MacElhaney and Corriveau said another important intangible is the team has “great chemistry” this year.

Maine Women’s Hockey Schedule

SEPTEMBER

30 – Mercyhurst, 1 p.m.

OCTOBER

1 – Mercyhurst, 11 a.m.

6 – at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

7 – vs. Bemidji State at Minneapolis, 4 p.m.

14 – New Hampshire, noon

15 – Boston College, noon

21 – at UConn, 1 p.m.

22 – at Northeastern, 2 p.m.

NOVEMBER

3 – North Dakota, 7 p.m.

4 – North Dakota, 7 p.m.

11 – Providence, 2 p.m.

12 – Providence, 7 p.m.

24 – at Sacred Heart, 7 p.m.

25 – at Sacred Heart, 2 p.m.

DECEMBER

2 – Northeastern, noon

3 – Northeastern, noon

8 – St. Lawrence, 7 p.m.

9 – St. Lawrence, 2 p.m.

JANUARY

12 – at New Hampshire, 7 p.m.

13 – at New Hampshire, 2 p.m.

20 – Vermont, noon

21 – at Providence, 4 p.m.

27 – at Boston University, 3 p.m.

28 – at Boston College, 2 p.m.

FEBRUARY

3 – UConn, noon

4 – UConn, noon

10 – at Vermont, 4 p.m.

11 – at Vermont, 2 p.m.

17 – Boston University, noon

18 – Boston University, noon

24 – at Boston College, 7:30 p.m.