ORONO, Maine — University of Maine field hockey head coach Josette Babineau described her incoming eight-member class as “very talented and experienced” in a news release Thursday.
“We were looking for players to add to our midfield and backfield line. Our team has been working hard this spring, and it will be exciting in preseason to see them come together as a whole since this is such a large class,” Babineau said.
The class includes forward Haley Marshall of Wales, a two-time captain at Oak Hill High School. Marshall participated with the Maine Majestix and racked up several honors while at Oak Hill, where she was named first team All-State, Kennebec Journal Player of the Year and the MVC Player of the Year in 2014.
As a senior, Marshall finished with 15 goals and 18 assists, leading Oak Hill to an undefeated regular season and a spot in the Western C final.
The other recruits are:
Delaney Baxendale, back/midfield, of Wilton, Connecticut: She was captain at Wilton High School and member of Fairfield County United and who was her team’s highest goal scorer in 2014. Baxendale helped lead her team to a NIT Gold Medal in 2014 and paced her squad to a Connecticut Class M runners-up showing.
Casey Crowley, midfield, of New Plymouth, New Zealand: She has participated with a trio of teams, staring at Shawnigan Lake School, Victoria Wildcats Premier and FHBC U18 Blue Provincial. Crowley, originally from New Zealand but living in British Columbia, was a three-time Most Valuable Player at Shawnigan, leading her team in goal scoring in 2013-14.
Lydia Gavne, midfield/back, of Buffalo, New York: She’s a two-year captain at Nichols School and was honored first team All-Western New York accolades while earning a varsity letter all four years. She was awarded team MVP in 2015 and led her squad to a May Meltdown Championship in 2015.
Samantha Gomes, back/midfield, Brampton, Ontario: She captained Under 16 Team Ontario to a gold medal in the 2013 National Championship tournament and traveled across North America representing the GOA Reds Field Hockey Club throughout Ontario and much of Canada.
Ella Mosky, back/midfield, Victoria, British Columbia: She was named to the Canadian Women’s Junior Development team and earned captain status of the U16 Team BC Blue squad. She helped lead Team BC Blue to four-straight first place finishes at Nationals and earned a Division-1 Women’s League Championship with the Lynx.
LIbby Riedl, midfield, Port Moody, British Columbia: She’s a two-time captain in high school, led her team to Fraser Valley Championships in 2012 and again in 2014. Named MVP of her high school team in 2015, she earned Graduating Female Athlete of the Year honors and was a Provincial Team Member from 2011-15.
Samantha Wagg, back, Victoria, Australia: She led her 2011 U15 Australian squad to a gold medal at the indoor championships before guiding her U18 Victorian State Team to three-straight silver medals. She’s a three-year member of the Victorian Futures squad, and her U18 outdoor team earned a bronze showing.
The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to UMaine and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.