Two University of Maine players who were chosen to the America East All-Rookie team, three former Bangor High School standouts, and a former state Class D player of the year are among the 22 women who will represent Blackbear United’s under-19 team in the Region One championships.

For the first time, the championships will be held in southern Maine, primarily Falmouth and Brunswick, June 29-July 3. They will also return next year.

There will be teams in age groups ranging from Under-12 to U-19 for both boys and girls.

“There will be 380 teams [from 13 states] and 4,400 players coming to Maine. It’s estimated they will bring $9.5 million to the state’s economy,” said M.J. Ball, head coach of Blackbear United’s U-19 girls.

Ball said since several of the U-19 players play in college and can’t get together in the fall, the state awards two programs the right to put together a team to represent Maine, and Blackbear United was awarded the girls team.

They played their first tournament together last weekend in Needham, Mass., and went 4-1, losing to Rhode Island 1-0 in the championship game.

“Our girls were outstanding. They played better than we expected,” said Ball. “We’ve got a very athletic team with a lot of speed and attack options up front.”

Lewiston’s Laura Martel, who was chosen to the America East All-Rookie team this past season, and Christine LaBelle, a 2005 America East All-Rookie selection, will headline the team. Both are strikers.

Three other Black Bears are also on the team: Katie DeLong of Presque Isle, Hailey Blackburn of York, and Jaymie Coulston of Scarborough.

Jessie Roberts, who graduated from Bangor High last year, and seniors Erin McDermott and Casey Hartley played important roles in the Rams’ recent success. Another Bangor-area player is Chauntel Veilleux, who graduated from Calvary Chapel in Orrington a year ago.

Roberts played soccer at Mercyhurst (Pa.) College last fall while Veilleux was the second leading goal scorer at Nyack (N.Y.) College with five.

Greenville’s Hannah Breton, a former Class D Player of the Year, is on the roster.

The other girls with eastern Maine ties on the 22-player squad are former Hampden resident Cara Kilroy, who now lives in Falmouth, and ex-Belfast High standout Caitlin Cross.

Ball said the team is seeking sponsors and donations to defray the various costs of participating in the tourney. Checks can be made payable to Blackbear United, 136 Main Road North, Hampden 04444.

Different levels of sponsorship are available, and company logos will be displayed according to the donation.