‘This is everything.’ Cheering for UMaine field hockey in their first national championship tournament appearance
By BDN Editorial Board
The University of Maine field hockey team hosted an America East conference championship in Orono for the first time this past weekend. The team made the most of that home field on Sunday when it won — also for the first time in program history — the conference championship.
It took two overtimes and a shootout for Maine to emerge victorious over the University of Albany. It was the team’s first America East conference championship. Next comes their first ever appearance in the NCAA championship tournament. Field hockey has been an official varsity sport at the university since 1972. It joined the America East conference in 1996.
The Black Bears play the RedHawks of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio on Wednesday in the first round of the NCAA Division I field hockey championship tournament.
“I just want to go out there and show everyone that Maine is a great school and it’s a great place to play. Just the chemistry we have, I just want everyone to see that,” goalie Mia Borley told WFVX TV after Sunday’s game, which was played before the biggest crowd ever for a field hockey game at UMaine. Borley was chosen as the tournament’s most outstanding player.
The Black Bears beat the University of California by a score of 2-1 on Friday to advance to the championship game. It was the team’s 14th consecutive appearance in the America East playoffs, but the first time they came out on top.
“This is everything. It doesn’t feel real right now,” forward Brooke Sulinski, who grew up in Old Town and dreamed of playing at UMaine, told the BDN. “I’m just really proud of this team. I knew we could do it. I’m proud of what we accomplished and I’m really thankful.”
The team has nine Maine players on its 20-person roster, including Abby Webber of Garland — a graduate of Dexter Regional High School
“It means everything to bring the trophy home,” said UMaine back Hannah Abbott from Portland, who played at Cheverus High School. “We have always known that we’re a great program and this really shows that we can do it. It puts Maine on the map once again.”
The team and its coaches also won several conference awards.
Head coach Josette Babineau and associate head coach Michelle Simpson were chosen as the league’s coaching staff of the year for the second year in a row. Borley was chosen as the goalkeeper of the year and Cassandra Mascarenhas was named the midfielder of the year.
Borley and Mascarenhas earned spots on the All-America East first team along with teammates Chloe Walton and Poppy Lambert. Maine had the most players chosen for the conference team.
Mascarenhas, Lambert and Sydney Meader were chosen for the conference’s All-Academic team. Meader is from Boothbay Harbor.
Also on Wednesday, Bowdoin College field hockey will play Eastern Connecticut State University in the first round of the NCAA Division III field hockey tournament. Bowdoin has won the national championship four times since 1982.
In both cases, these student athletes are giving Maine plenty to cheer about.