The University of Maine women’s soccer team, which has won the last three America East tournaments, held its first practice on Wednesday with six newcomers, two transfers who joined the program this past spring, and 17 returnees.
Eight of those returning players started in the team’s NCAA Tournament game against Central Florida, which was won by the host Knights, 2-0, in Orlando.
Scott Atherley, who is in his 28th year as head coach of the Black Bear women after previously leading the now-defunct UMaine men’s program, said the two transfers and six freshmen are “great kids, exceptional athletes and smart players who have a drive like the rest of our crew.”
“They are going to fit in really well,” he added. “We’re in a situation where we aren’t going to have to rely on any one new player but we know they are going to impact our lineup. They are going to play and this is a perfect situation for them because there won’t be any pressure on them.”
The two transfers, forwards Sandrine Brault from Oklahoma State and Isabella Meadows from UConn, have already shown that they are capable of being contributors based on their play during the spring season, Atherley said.
Brault is from Notre Dame des Prairies, Quebec, and Meadows is from Springfield, Massachusetts.
Brault has “exceptional speed and control of the ball. She can take players on (one-on-one) and turn them inside-out,” Atherley said.
Meadows, meanwhile, is a great athlete who “can play with her back to the goal and combines well with other players. And she can really stretch a defense,” Atherley added.
The freshmen are midfielders Ashley Kraemer from Waterloo, Ontario, and Hannah Wehmeyer from Gutersloh, Germany; striker Juliane Belanger from Levis, Quebec; center back Jenna McIntyre from Calgary, Alberta; and goalkeepers Thea Arkdal-Ranebro from Kungsbacka, Sweden, and Juliette Portugais from Mirabel, Quebec.
Kraemer is the younger sister of former UMaine standouts Abby and Kayla Kraemer. Abby Kraemer was a two-time All-American, the only All-American in program history.
“Ashley is really, really tenacious and athletic,” Atherley said. “If we need a true ball-winning player in the middle of the field, she’s that person because her compete level is so high.”
Wehmeyer is “super clever and knows how to play players through” with passes, Atherley said. “She has great vision and can get out of really dangerous situations,” the coach added.
Belanger played club soccer in France last season.
“She is a really clever player who can be a striker or play out wide. She is a more polished version of Jordane Pinette,” who has graduated, Atherley said. “She has a little bit more sophistication in front of the goal. Where Jordane was more of a speedy, powerful, run by you, going to press you, Juliane is very, very composed and has a lot of savvy as a player.”
McIntyre is 5-foot-11 and is considered a “very physical player” by Atherley and that should help her adapt to the physicality of Division I soccer.
“She’s a hard tackler and very good in the air,” Atherley said.
Atherley likes his two talented young goalkeepers. While he returns an America East All-Rookie and all-tourney selection in sophomore Elena Barenberg, the freshmen will have to battle for the back-up role after veteran goalie Grace Wilson transferred.
“We were talking about Grace [as the starter] at this time last year,” Atherley pointed out. “You never know.”
UMaine will regain the services of injured junior midfielder Emma Nicholson, junior forward Aja Turner and sophomore midfielder Teagan Atherley, Scott Atherley’s daughter.
Turner missed the entire season due to injury; Atherley suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the season and Nicholson, one of the team’s leading scorers with eight points on two goals and four assists, was sidelined the last six games.
Eight of the team’s 11 scorers will be back, including senior midfielder Luise Reinwald, an All-America East second team pick.
“We will certainly have a more seasoned team this year,” Atherley said. “We had to replace nine starters last year and now we only have to replace three starters so the returning players are more experienced.”
UMaine will open its season at the University of Rhode Island at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The Black Bears were 6-8-4 a year ago but upset Binghamton and Vermont on the road in the semifinals and title game, respectively.
Barenberg was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and Pinette, Reinwald and midfielder Olivia Grisdale joined her on the all-tourney team.
Grisdale is a midfielder and is also back this year.