UMaine girls’s soccer group has ‘unfinished enterprise’ after breakthrough 2022 season
The College of Maine’s girls’s soccer group did one thing final season that no group in America East had carried out since 2012: it went undefeated in convention play throughout an everyday season.
The Black Bears received 4 and tied 4 to earn the third seed for the event.
UMaine beat No. 6 the New Jersey Institute of Expertise 4-1 within the quarterfinals earlier than dropping to eventual champ and second seed New Hampshire 2-1 within the semifinals.
It was the primary time since 2015 that the Black Bears certified for the postseason in America East.
It was additionally UMaine’s first profitable season since that yr, with a 9-3-5 general document.
UMaine was picked to complete third within the America East coaches preseason ballot behind final yr’s tourney finalists, No. 1 Binghamton and No. 2 UNH. And regardless of dropping 11 gamers, Twenty fourth-year head coach Scott Atherley and his gamers really feel this yr’s group is probably higher than final yr’s.
The Black Bears have 21 returning gamers from their spring season, together with transfers Kristina Kelly from Central Connecticut State College and who hails from Lincolnville, and Lara Kirkby from the College of Oregon who’s initially from Adelaide, Australia.
“By way of expertise, the corps that was right here within the spring places us in an excellent place to compete. I really feel superb about the place we’re,” mentioned Atherley, who thinks this group has extra depth than final yr’s squad.
“Having high quality depth is essential, particularly throughout our two-game weeks. You actually need to have high quality depth and it additionally makes coaching extra aggressive and that actually works to our benefit.”
Atherley mentioned the group felt good about final yr’s season however the gamers have “unfinished enterprise.”
“The underside line is we wish to win a championship,” mentioned Atherley, whose group has by no means received the America East tourney. Doing so would earn his Black Bears their first-ever berth within the NCAA Division I playoffs.
Senior midfielder Delaney LaBonte from York mentioned the group set basis final yr however that the playoff loss to UNH nonetheless stings.
“We wish to do higher this yr. Now we have an opportunity to go method past third place. Now we have lots of depth. That’s considered one of our largest property,” mentioned LaBonte, daughter of former UMaine quarterback Wealthy LaBonte.
“Depth will likely be actually essential,” mentioned reigning America East Goalkeeper Kira Kutzinski. “We sub so much and that helps us sustain the pace of play.”
The speedy Kelly, who was a primary group All-Northeast Convention choice when she was at Central Connecticut State, mentioned she has watched UMaine video games from the 2022 season and mentioned the group was actually good.
“However we’re going to be even higher in a totally totally different method with our pace and health and the way we can interchange [positions],” mentioned former highschool All-American Kelly, who scored 159 objectives at Camden Hills Excessive Faculty in Rockport and was chosen the nation’s prime women soccer participant in 2019.
UMaine did lose three of its prime 5 scorers, together with main point-getter Saylor Clark (7 objectives, 2 assists) and No. 3 level producer Birte Speck (3 & 2).
But it surely does return the Kraemer sisters, junior Abby and senior Kayla, who have been second and fourth in scoring with 6 & 2 and a couple of & 3, respectively.
Abby Kraemer was a second group All-America East decide.
Sophomores Julie Lossius (2 & 1), Jodane Pinette (1 & 2) and senior Tegan Morrison (1 & 1) are additionally proficient, skilled forwards who ought to determine on the scoresheet this season.
Pinette was chosen to the America East All-Rookie group.
LaBonte (1 help) and Kirkby would be the catalysts within the midfield and Atherley mentioned sophomore Madison Michaud (1 & 3) from Gorham, and freshmen Abbey Thornton from Windham and Luise Reinwald from Munich, Germany, have been spectacular.
Thornton scored a school-record 34 objectives for Windham Excessive Faculty final season.
“In the event you have been to ask me a yr in the past what was my largest concern was for this season, I might have mentioned the midfield however now I really feel it’s the place now we have essentially the most depth,” mentioned Atherley, who needed to substitute gamers like Speck (3 & 2) and Hannah Bamford (1 & 1).
Freshman Victoria Dungey can be within the combine within the midfield.
Within the again, Atherley has to interchange All-America East and All-Area choice Halle Rogers (2 & 1) together with dependable Susannah Gaines (3 & 0) and Amanda Sandberg (no factors).
“However that’s the place now we have actually strengthened our corps,” Atherley mentioned.
Hartford switch Doireann Fahey from Eire has been “improbable” as far as the left again and Memphis switch Rebecca Grisdale will even determine prominently on the again line together with the Schneider sisters, juniors Myla and Emma, fellow juniors Melina Peloteau and Elle Vermilya, and freshman Grace Johnson.
Emma Schneider scored a purpose final season and Atherley considers her “our harmful outdoors participant” within the again line.
There are six Maine natives on the group. Together with Thornton, LaBonte, Michaud and Kelly are Hermon freshmen midfielder Michaela Saulter and senior defender Sophia Santamaria from Kittery.
Kutzinski, who had a 0.59 goals-against common and .817 save proportion with seven shutouts a yr in the past, is backed up by two succesful transfers in Rachel Ross (Rider) and Jessica Kasacek (West Virginia).
“It could be nice to be the Goalkeeper of the Yr once more this yr however I might reasonably win a championship. A hoop is nicer than a trophy,” Kutzinski mentioned.
Atherley’s group will once more strain the ball all around the area, seeking to create turnovers that result in scoring possibilities.
“Twenty-six of our 32 objectives final yr got here in transition lower than 10 seconds after profitable possession of the ball,” Atherley mentioned. “We’re fairly balanced. Our mindset is we wish to win the ball as near the opponents’ purpose as we will so we will capitalize on transition.”
UMaine will play exhibition video games at Northeastern in Boston on Aug. 11 and at dwelling towards the College of New Brunswick on Aug. 15 at 4 p.m. earlier than opening the season towards first-year Division I program Le Moyne Faculty on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m.
