ORONO, Maine – Coming off another season finishing nationally ranked, the No. 25 Maine Black Bears are set to open up the 2018 season this upcoming Friday at the UMaine Field Hockey Complex. After losing just three members to graduation from last season, the squad led by six seniors looks to put together a special season in 2018.
 
"It's been a fun preseason, just with the number of returning players that we have and the level of play that we have shown so far has been very high-caliber," said head coach Josette Babineau, who is entering her 12^th year at the helm of the Black Bears this season.
 
"Obviously it's just the beginning of the season. We're not necessarily going to be at our best, but it's okay because it's early and it's just where we're starting from. As long as we keep building as the season goes, I think we're looking good so far"
 
On offense, the Black Bears return 90.4 percent of their goal production and 89.7 percent of their point producers from a 2017 squad that ranked 13^th nationally in scoring average (2.86) and 14^th in goals per game (2.89). All three of the Black Bears all-conference honorees are back, with Casey Crowley, Libby Riedl and Samantha Wagg combining for 20 goals and 24 assists for 64 of Maine's 146 points last year.
 
While Maine lost both goalkeepers from last year to graduation, the Black Bears return all their backs on defense from a season ago. That group helped Maine rank 15^th in the country in scoring margin (1.32)
 
Maine boasts a challenging non-conference slate in 2018, which includes three games against nationally-ranked opponents. After the season opener against Holy Cross on Aug. 24, Maine travels to No. 19 Boston University (Aug. 31) and faces No. 24 Ohio State (Sept. 1) in neutral-site action in Beantown. Other notable non-conference games includes a pair contests against Ivy League foes in Cornell (Sept. 14) and No. 15 Harvard (Sept. 23).
 
In recent memory, the Black Bears have been successful against America East foes in the regular season. The current group of seniors hold a combined 19-5 record against UAlbany, New Hampshire, UMass Lowell and Vermont over the past three seasons, never losing more than two of the eight conference games each year. The senior six have thrived in the friendly confines of the UMaine Field Hockey Complex, putting together a 19-6 combined record over the past three years.
 
While the regular season has come with great success, each of the last two seasons, Maine has fallen in the quarterfinal round of the America East Tournament. The Black Bears look to break that streak this season. Maine last reached the America East Championship in 2015.
 
"I think with our mentality, sometimes we try to be a little bit more lowkey with our preparation," said Babineau. "We've done well during the regular season. We want to continue that into the postseason. I think it takes a bit of that experience of being there and having a chip on the shoulder that we've been close but we didn't do it. If we could bring that urgency and that chip on the shoulder experience into that game, if it could play to our advantage since we're traveling to the west coast, I think that would be a good mentality to our team."
 
The nationally-ranked Black Bears take on Holy Cross at home in the season opener on Friday, Aug. 24 at 1:00 p.m. A full game preview will be posted on Thursday. All home games at the UMaine Field Hockey Complex are free admission. Follow @UMaineFH and visit goblackbears.com for all the latest news and updates. 
 
See below for a more in-dept breakdown of each position.
 
FORWARDS: Junior Brittany Smith returns this season after registering two game-winning goals a season ago. The Black Bears lost just one forward in Madison Cummings to graduation from the 2017 roster, but add Boothbay Harbor, Maine native Sydney Meader to the team in 2018. Brooke Sulinksi and Abby Webber add depth to the position.  Riley Field, who stared all 18 games a season ago returns for her junior season playing the forward position. Senior Lydia Gavner who appeared in every game looks to finish her career as Black Bear on a high note. Kelsey Mehuren and Claire Scobie are three newcomers that could make an impact this season. Scobie and Morgan Anson can be featured at forward and midfield in 2018. 

MIDFIELDERS: The midfield is a strength this season in regards to experience and production. After leading the team in points Libby Riedl looks to break into 100-point club as she enters her final year as a Black Bear with 79 points. Riedl produced nine goals and 10 assists last season for 28 points, which ranked 47^th nationally in points per game in 2017 Senior captain Casey Crowley, who started all 61 games she has appeared in, enters her senior season with 19 goals and 18 assists for 61 total points in three seasons. After representing Field Hockey Canada over the summer, Brianna Ricker looks to put together another impressive season during her junior year, after leading the team in goals (10) and ranking second on the team in points (24) in 17 games as a sophomore.
Hana Davis, who provided a game-winning goals against Richmond and UMass Lowell looks to put together a productive sophomore season. Nina Keur looks to be a factor as a newcomer to the postion.

BACKS: The back position also projects to be strong this upcoming season, with returning starters Emily Hindle, Ella Mosky, Cassandra Mascarenhas and Samantha Wagg all back this season. and newcomer Hannah Abbott will look to make an impact as well. Hindle and Wagg were vital on penalty corners a season ago, while Mascarenhas earned America East All-Rookie Team honors after an impressive freshman season. Mosky enters her final season, after starting all 61 games in her career that she has appeared in. 
 
GOALKEEPER: With Emma Corbett and Emily Cochran departing the team due to graduation, freshman Mia Borley will man the goal for the Black Bears in 2018. A native of Durham, England, Borley has international playing experience, representing both England and Wales. At Durham High, she received Goalkeeper of the Year honors five years in a row, helping Durham win a regional title, while also collecting two Player of the Year awards. Borley replaces Cochran, who ranked 15^th nationally in win-loss percentage (0.667) and 23^rd in goals against average (1.55) in 2017.
 
Coach Josette Babineau on Mia Borley:
"I think she's very talented. Already having played a scrimmage against a team that's a very good opponent, I think she handled it well. I think she has a lot of experience coming in. It's really just adapting to the Division I style of play, but also just getting to know her teammates and getting to know how we want to play in our defensive end. Those are all things that continue to help her as we get more organized into the season."
 
-UMaine-