FARMINGTON – The University of Maine at Farmington’s field hockey team enters 2015 with an eye for a North Atlantic Conference championship crown after advancing to the championship game last season and falling in double overtime to Husson.
Head coach Cyndi Pratt guides the Beavers for her thirteenth season on the sidelines. The success from last year has already carried over to 2015 as UMF was voted number two in the North Atlantic Conference field hockey preseason poll.
UMF’s five seniors are looking to capture a NAC championship as they wrap up their careers. The Beavers group of seniors are — Lindsey Whitney (Lisbon Falls, Maine/Lisbon); Delainey Kein (Unity, Maine/Mt. View); Rebecca Young (Plainfield, N.H./Kimball Union Academy); Mara Balboni (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee); and Susan Newkirk (Bethel, Maine/Telstar).
A pair of juniors will contribute to the UMF defense – Patty Smith (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) is set for another season in goal; and Emily Lewia (Wells, Maine/Wells) is set to stop any scoring attack.
After a strong first year, the Beavers have a solid core of sophomores coming back with a year’s worth of experience under its belt. LeaAnne Greenleaf (Gardiner, Maine/Gardiner) and Alyssa Arsenault (Winthrop, Maine/Winthrop) provide depth to the Beavers defensive force while Braley Leadbetter (Waldo, Maine/Mt. View); Carly Raymond (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat); Emmah Spahr (Winthrop, Maine/Winthrop); Jenessa Talarico (Lewiston, Maine/Lewiston); and Sarita Crandall (Farmington, Maine/Mt. Blue) will lead the scoring attack this season.
The freshmen include – Rylie Turner (Portland, Maine/Deering); Katherine Merrill (Andover, Maine/Telstar); Torrie Nightingale (Bangor, Maine/Bangor); Andrea Stemm (Gorham, Maine/Gorham); Kyla Sturtevant (Poland, Maine/Poland); Emma Martineau (Greene, Maine/Leavitt); Gabriella Winslow (Parsonsfield, Maine/Sacopee Valley); and Chelsea Ballard (Fairfield, Maine/Lawrence).
UMaine-Farmigton opens the season with a three-game, non-conference stretch against Framingham, Wheelock and USM. Other non-conference games scheduled include Colby, Bowdoin, and St. Joseph’s College. The Beavers’ home opener is Sunday, September 20 against Rivier, and conference play starts on Saturday, September 26 when New England College visits Farmington.
For scores, stats, news, and updates about UMF field hockey, visit www.goUMFbeavers.com.
