ORONO, Maine — The resurgent University of Maine field hockey team has parlayed a six-game winning streak into the No. 20 ranking in the nation in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll.
Head coach Josette Babineau’s 8-6 Black Bears (2-0 in America East) haven’t let injuries sustained by junior starters Marissa Shaw of Plymouth, a midfielder, and forward Cassidy Svetek, derail them. Svetek had four goals and assist in nine games.
Shaw has returned to the lineup but is still limited while Svetek remains sidelined.
Sophomore forward Danielle Aviani (10 goals, 2 assists) has combined with seniors Annabelle Hamilton (7 & 7) and Canadian National Team player Holly Stewart (7 & 4) to lead a balanced attack. The Black Bears rank 16th in the nation in goals per game (2.91) and have had exceptional seasons, Babineau said.
Hamilton and Stewart are closing in on 100 career points as Hamilton has 96 (34 goals, 28 assists) and Stewart has 92 (36 & 20).
Skowhegan junior midfielders Nicole Sevey (5 & 1) and Jessica Skillings (2 & 4) have supplied important supplemental scoring.
Skillings had two goals and two assists in the wins over Fairfield (3-1) and Yale (4-0) last weekend.
“Jessica had a great weekend,” Babineau said. “And Nicole has played extremely well.”
Hamilton has a five-game goal scoring streak and was chosen the America East Co-Player of the Week.
Another plus has been the play of redshirt freshman goaltenders Emma Cochran (5-2, 1.20 goals-against average, .780 save percentage), and Emily Corbet (3-4, 2.13, .674).
“And it’s nice knowing we’ll have them for three more years,” Babineau said.
Babineau also said the back line of Gardiner senior Becca Paradee, York senior Hannah Keating and junior Katie Bingle from England have “played well together.”
Maine begins a four-game road trip this weekend when they take on America East rival UMass Lowell (4-9, 0-2) at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, before a non-conference showdown with No. 16 Northeastern (11-2) at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19.
Maine travels to Albany the following weekend to face No. 11 Albany and Cornell before the Black Bears conclude the regular season by hosting New Hampshire on Oct. 31.