Orono, ME - The University of Maine field hockey team announced their incoming class for the 2025 season. The class consists of nine first-year players from five different countries.

"We are excited to welcome these terrific student athletes into our Black Bear field hockey family," Head Coach Josette Babineau states. "This is a significant class for our program since we are graduating many experienced players. This class brings a strong level of versatility, talent and athleticism with which we can build upon and develop. Their mentality aligns well with our program and will allow us to continue to strive for success in our conference"

Martha Barratt, a native of Bristol, UK, joins the Black Bears after her time at Redmaids' High School and the Clifton Robinsons Hockey Club. As a forward for her club team, she was the second-highest goal scorer in 2024 as she recorded 9 goals in 18 matches. In 2024, she was named her club's Young Player of the Year along with being named a captain for the Tier 1 England Hockey U18s team; a team which would finish as the National Runners Up in that same season. At her high school she was named the Player of the Season in her final year. In 2021, she was selected for Wessex Leopards and was later selected for trial for England Hockey's U16 Team, which earned her a spot on the U16 Long Squad for England.

Leyden Churchill, a native of Dover, New Hampshire, spent her past four years at Dover High School and with her club team, Seacoast. As a forward, during her sophomore season, she was the second leading goal scorer for her Division 1 New Hampshire Final Four Team. During her junior season, she helped lead a defense that allowed the fewest goals in their Division which ultimately led her team to an undefeated season and a State Championship Title. She was a three-time New Hampshire Field Hockey Coaches Association All-State selection her sophomore, junior and senior seasons, and served as team captain her senior year.

Nicole Kowalewski, a native of Midhirst, Taranaki, New Zealand, joins the Black Bears after her time at New Plymouth High School and the Taranaki Regional Team. As a defender, she has served as a captain for her high school, club, and regional teams. She is a two-time Regional U18 MVP, accomplishing the feat in 2022 and 2023. She has been competing for the Future Black Sticks since 2023 on their U18 and U19 teams.

Sophie Maquestiau, is a native of Saint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels, Belgium comes to Maine after graduating from GO! Atheneum Unesco Koekelberg. For 10 years she competed with Royal Daring Molenbeek Hockey Club where she served as a team captain and helped lead her team to a Conference Championship appearance in the U19 Division. As a defender, she most recently switched to Royal Baudouin Dilbeek to play on the Women's First Team. She has also recently made it into the Top-50 for selections for the Belgium National Squad.

Sofia Miller, a native of Keene, New Hampshire, joins Maine after her time at Keene High School and Summit FHC. As a forward, she set a pair of records for her high school as she registered the most assists in school history and became the first athlete to reach 100 career points. She finished her career with 37 goals and 27 assists, earning her Offensive MVP her senior season. In 2024, she led her team to the first New Hampshire D1 Championship in school history and the New Hampshire Field Hockey Coaches Association named her to the First Team All-State. Max Field Hockey ultimately named her Player of the Year for the state of New Hampshire. She served as a captain of both her club and high school team. 

Louisa Plaehn, a native of Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany, joins the Black Bears after graduating from Kaiser-Wilhelm-und Ratsgymnasium Hannover. As a defender, she has competed for two club teams in the past 15 years. She captained her DTV Hannover team which competed in the First Junior Division. And with Eintracht Brunswick, which competes in the Second Bundesliga, she helped lead the team to a sixth place finish in the German National Championships. Between the two clubs, she has won 13 State Championships.

Julia Pieters, a native of Haarlemmereer, North Holland, Netherlands, joins the Black Bears for her first year of collegiate field hockey after spending time the last 14 years between two clubs teams, M.H.C De Reigers (2011-23) and most recently, A.M.H.C. Rood-Wit. As a defender, she is currently helping guide her Rood-Wit team towards the Super-A League Championship for the 2024-2025 season. She has also competed at the highest National Field Hockey Level, the Girls Under-18 in 2023 and 2024.

Gabrielle Sousa, a native of Farmingdale, Maine, remains in the state of Maine following her time at Gardiner Area High School. She has competed with two in-state club teams; Maine Styx for two years before switching to Coastal Field Hockey, where she has been playing the last two years. As a midfielder, she led her high school team in assists, registering 23 assists between her junior and senior years. She also served as a team captain for her high school team during both her junior and senior years.

Allison Sweetser, a native of Falmoth, Maine, also remains in the state of Maine following her time at Falmouth High School and with Coastal Field Hockey Club. As a forward, she led her high school team in goals, leading to her earning All-Conference First Team honors and being named to the Maine Field Hockey Association All-State Team. She also served as a team captain for her high school team.

-UMaine-