The Maine Sting hasn’t been together very long but the players have already developed a healthy optimism as they open their National Premier Soccer League season today at 1 p.m. against AC Diablos (N.J.) at Boucher Field on the Husson College campus in Bangor.

The Maine Tide, their female counterparts, dropped their NPSL opener 2-0 to Soccer Plus (Conn.) last Saturday and will try to rebound against the AC Diablos women today at 3:15.

“I think we can win instantly. We have two big, strong goalkeepers with a lot of experience and an experienced back line,” said striker Brian Hardie, one of six Englishmen on the team. “We just need to get the ball in the back of the net, and I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. We’re a very attack-minded team.”

“I think we can attack in a lot of different ways. We should be exciting to watch,” said fellow Englishman John Benson, a flank midfielder.

Coach Bill Ashby agreed.

“We not only have physical speed, our technical speed is very, very good. We’ll be able to play quickly. I think we’ll surprise some teams how quickly we can play and get forward,” said Ashby, the athletic director and men’s soccer coach at the University of Maine-Fort Kent.

Andy Varns from Sheffield, England, said the team has “a lot of potential.

“It’s going to be tough for anybody to keep their [starting] place on the team. We’re going to have to go out and give it our all in practice every day because if you don’t perform [well] one week, you could be out [of the lineup] the next. That’s good. That keeps everyone on their toes,” said Varns.

Varns, Hardie and Nova Scotian Alexander Devereaux should see a lot of duty up front, according to Ashby.

Benson, Ellsworth High and former University of Maine All-America East selection Cooper Friend and South African Emlyn Jacoby of UMFK, who led the NAIA in assists last fall, will headline the midfield with several contenders vying for the other spot, according to Ashby.

Ashby said he has eight quality fullbacks and he is still trying to sort that out.

“Every player is a good player. I’m trying to find combinations that can play together,” said Ashby.

Nova Scotian Russell Kerr and UMaine standout Kiaran McCormack will anchor the defense. Stephen Grooms from Alabama, John Janick from Kentucky, Englishman Stuart Rodgers and Bangor’s Eben Sypitkowski are among the others in the mix for the other two starting spots.

Englishman David Stevenson and Virginian Angel Abunez have the inside track in goal.

“They have both looked good in training,” said Ashby.

Ashby said his team will be a “hard-tackling” unit, and he and the players said the team chemistry has been a plus.

“We’ve got a good bunch of lads. Everybody seems to be enjoying it. I’m looking forward to it,” said goalie Stevenson.

“We’re all getting to know each other. That has come along quicker than expected. The chemistry is real good. A lot of us are living together and that helps out,” said Hardie.

Friend and Sypitkowski are looking forward to playing in their backyard.

“It’s definitely exciting. Hopefully I’ll get some old friends out to the game,” said Friend.

“It’s great to see this happening around here,” said Sypitkowski, who starred at Bangor High and Bates College.

The AC Diablos men went 5-1-4 in league play a year ago and lost their opener to Maryland United 3-1. The AC Diablos women were 8-2 after going 8-1-1 the previous year and tied the Philadelphia Liberty 0-0.

Former New England Revolution assistant Matt Driver coaches the teams.

lmahoney@bangordailylnews.net

990-8231

MAINE STING SCHEDULE

Saturday: AC Diablos, 1 p.m.

June 7: Morristown, 1 p.m.

June 14: Long Island, 1 p.m.

June 21: Queen City, 2 p.m.

June 27: at Boston Aztecs, 5 p.m.

June 28: at Queen City, 7 p.m.

July 3: at Long Island, TBA

July 5: at AC Diablos, TBA

July 6: at Morristown, 6 p.m.

July 12: Boston Aztecs, 1 p.m.