With the start of preseason workouts only days away, the University of Maine field hockey team has announced its class of incoming freshmen.
Bri Robertson of Bradley, Becca Paradee of Gardiner and Hannah Keating of York are among seven players who have signed National Letters of Intent to compete for coach Josette Babineau’s team beginning this fall.
UMaine also has received commitments from Zoe Berkey of Duncan, British Columbia and Abbey Gutowski of Conway, N.H., along with Annabelle Hamilton and Holly Stewart, both of whom hail from North Vancouver, British Columbia,
“Our incoming class brings a high level of skill and experience in all areas of the field,” Babineau said in a press release. “These players will have important roles and an immediate impact in the continued development and success of our team.”
The instate signees arrive with experience in the midfield. Paradee racked up 38 goals and 24 assists for coach Moe McNally at Gardiner High, which posted a 57-9-1 record and won a Class A state title.
Keating finished her high school career with 24 goals and 33 assists to help York win three Western Maine titles and its first state championship, in 2008. She was a finalist for Miss Maine Field Hockey in 2010.
Robertson played for coach Gina Shuck at John Bapst High in Bangor. She also played as a back in addition to the midfield and registered five goals and eight assists.
Gutowski, who plays forward, had a stellar career at Kennett High School, which earned the 2010 N.H. state title. She broke the school record for goals and assists last season on her way to first-team, all-state recognition.
Hamilton and Stewart played together at Carson Graham Secondary School, winning the 2010 provincial championship with a 25-0 record. Stewart is a forward and Hamilton played back.
Berkey, a midfielder/back, played at Cowichan Senior Secondary, has played for Team British Columbia.
The student-athletes’ participation is contingent upon admission to UMaine and compliance with NCAA initial-eligibility guidelines.
Monks to play hoop in Europe
The men’s basketball team at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish is preparing to take a trip across the pond.
Coach Rob Sanicola’s Monks are scheduled to depart Aug. 23 for a weeklong trip to England, where they will play four exhibition games against teams in London and Oxford.
“We hope this tour will continue to foster the close-knit family we have in our program, but will also be a springboard to the upcoming year,” Sanicola said in a press release.
Saint Joseph’s features a squad with 12 returning players and the tour, which features games against the Bristol Flyers, Milton Keynes Lions, Reading Rockets and Hemel Storm, will enable the Monks to get a jump on the 2011-12 season. Practice doesn’t begin until Oct. 15.
The team will perform some community service work, conducting two basketball clinics, one for 14-to-16-year-olds and the other for players 17-20, at the Oxford Brooes’ Centre for Sport. Of course, the Monks are planning to do some sightseeing, including trips to Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.
The NCAA allows teams to begin practicing 10 days prior to leaving for foreign exhibition tours, which are permitted once every four years.
Del Guercio joins Colby soccer staff
Colby College in Waterville has hired Su-Lin Del Guercio as an assistant coach for its women’s soccer team, head coach Jennifer Holsten announced this week.
Del Guercio, a native of Parsippany, N.J., was a three-time, All-New England pick during her career with the Mules from 2008-10. She graduated from Colby in May with a bachelor’s degree in government.
The former midfielder was named a team captain, its most valuable player and was selected for the All-New England Small College Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship Team last fall. Del Guercio has been a youth soccer coach and also coached at the Olympic Development Region I Camp recently at the University of Rhode Island.