The University of Maine field hockey team went 5-11 a year ago, but its season could have been dramatically different if it hadn’t gone 1-4 in overtime games.

Second-year coach Josette Babineau said there was a legitimate reason behind the Black Bears’ overtime woes.

“We couldn’t finish games because we didn’t have depth,” explained Babineau, noting injuries played a significant role in the depth predicament.

“We had to play a lot of people out of position,” added Babineau.

That has changed thanks to the influx of eight freshmen to go with 11 returning letter-winners.

“We have a lot more choices at all positions,” said Babineau.

“Having a lot of injuries last year, including myself, made things very tough,” said senior back Gigi Niekrash, who was redshirted after two games due to a hand injury. “All of this year’s freshmen are good enough to play so we’ll have a huge bench. I’m very excited. I think it’s going to be a very good season.”

The Bears will have a freshman in goal as Brittany Fleck and Morrill’s Elizabeth Anderson vie for the job vacated by Rebecca Giroux and Maygan Cassarino.

“They both have potential,” said Babineau. “We’ll have to wait and see how things play out. I’m looking to give them both experience throughout the year but maybe not on an equal basis [if one outperforms the other].”

They will benefit from the fact new assistant coach Burgundy Biletski is a former standout goalkeeper for the University of Calgary.

“We should have a pretty experienced defense this year and that should help them out as well,” said senior sweeper Nicole Emery of Winthrop, Maine’s second leading scorer a year ago and its top returning scorer with three goals and four assists.

The Bears will be bolstered by the return of Norridgewock’s Mallory (Shute) Pollard, the former Skowhegan High School standout who missed last year to give birth to her first child. She is a sophomore who has been hampered by an ankle injury so far.

Canaan’s Courtney Veinotte (3 goals, 1 assist), one of three America East All-Rookie team picks, has made the move from forward to fullback.

Junior Jackie D’Amato (3 goals, 1 assist) will join Pollard, Veinotte, Emery and Niekrash in the back as will sophomore Michelle Niedziejko, University of Albany transfer Jamie Flagg of Swanville and University of Prince Edward Island transfer Ellen Andrews.

Niedziejko and Andrews also will see time in the midfield.

Senior Kim MacDonald (3 & 2) and All-Rookie team pick Maire Dineen (1 & 0) will play integral roles in the midfield as will Belfast’s Kallie Aldus, a sophomore who missed last season due to knee surgery. Mallory Anderson, another sophomore, is back after received a lot of time in the midfield a year ago.

Belfast’s Brittney Cummings (0 & 1), an All-Rookie choice, leads a youthful group of forwards along with Vancouver freshmen Kelly Newton and Stephanie Gardiner, who were teammates at the Crofton House School and in the British Columbia provincial program.

Another freshman, Jocelyn Mitchell, has also looked good. Courtney Glynn and Jackson’s Molly Arute, both freshmen, will supply depth up front.

“A lot of our freshmen are really good attacking players. And they’re really fast,” said Cummings.

“Our attack is going to be a lot stronger than last year,” said MacDonald.

Maine averaged 1.37 goals per game a year ago while yielding 2.02.

The Bears, 1-4 in conference play last season, feel they can contend for the league title.

“Winning America East is a realistic goal,” said Niekrash. “We came very close my freshman and sophomore years.”

Maine, which has a new field this season, opens Sunday at Storrs, Conn., against Sacred Heart before facing host UConn the next day.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

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UMAINE SCHEDULE

AUGUST

31 – vs. Sacred Heart at Storrs, Conn., noon

SEPTEMBER

1 – at Connecticut, noon

7 – Brown, noon

13 – vs. Monmouth at Burlington, Vt., 2 p.m.

14 – vs. Ohio State at Burlington, Vt., 12:30 p.m.

20 – Bryant, noon

21 – Quinnipiac, noon

28 – at Providence, 1 p.m.

OCTOBER

4 – at Albany, 1 p.m.

5 – at Colgate, noon

11 – New Hampshire, noon

12 – vs. Rutgers at Providence, R.I., noon

18 – at Boston University, 4 p.m.

26 – at Vermont, 1 p.m.

NOVEMBER

1 – Fairfield, 11:30 a.m.

2 – at Holy Cross, 1 p.m.