GORHAM – Seniors Makayla Garvin (Sanford), Abbie Staples (Massabesic) and Maggie Redman (Massabesic) have been named co-captains of the 2019 University of Southern Maine Huskies’ field hockey team.
USM field hockey head coach and alumnae Bonny Brown-Denico made the announcement as her team prepares for its season-opening game versus Manhattanville on Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Hannaford Field in Gorham.
“Makayla, Abbie and Maggie each have very distinct leadership styles; however they work together to compliment each other,” said Brown-Denico. “The combination of their leadership, work ethic and experience will be a tremendous benefit for us this season. Makayla is a second-year captain, and her maturity, calm demeanor, on-the-field communication has been vital to our success. A composed and tenacious player, Abbie sees the field extremely well and is going to control our midfield for us this season. She is a great team player and looks to set up her teammates for scoring opportunities with routine. Maggie simply leads by example. Her work rate is second-to-none and she is a threat on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. A great competitor, Maggie will be in the link position this season where she can use her versatility to her advantage.”
Playing defense for the Huskies, Garvin, an athletic training major, earned second team All-Little East Conference honors in 2018. With one goal and one assist during the season, Garvin’s lone goal was a big one tallying the game-winner in the Huskies’ 4-0 conference win at Framingham State. Garvin also recorded an assist on the game-winner in a 2-1 victory versus LEC foe Plymouth State. Defensively, Garvin notched a defensive save in USM’s 3-1 LEC win over Castleton, she and played a vital role in helping USM’s four shutout victories and 1.84 goals against average, which ranks third in the Little East.
A business management major and a William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete, Staples earned an All-LEC honorable mention nod in 2019. Scoring nine goals and adding three assists for 21 points, Staples showed a knack for scoring in a big spot as seven of her nine goals and all three of her assists came in conference play. Notching a pair of game-winning goals, both in conference action, Staples scored USM’s decisive goal in a 3-1 win over regular season champion Castleton University, helping the Huskies’ secure the number three seed in the LEC tournament. In USM’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Fitchburg State, Staples scored the game-tying goal en route to the comeback win.
A two-time William B. Wise Scholar Athlete and NFHCA All-Academic Team member, Redman is a Criminology major. A regular in the Huskies’ midfield, Redman connected for 18 points with six goals and six assists, including the game-winner in a 2-1 win over LEC opponent Worcester State. Named the LEC Defensive Player of the Week once in 2018. With eight goals and seven assists to her credit over her career, half of Redman’s goals have been game winners.
Picked to finish for fourth in the 2019 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Southern Maine returns 11 players from the 2018 team which finished third in the regular season standings. In addition to its three captains, the Huskies also return 2018 LEC Rookie of the Year Samantha Ellis (New Vineyard, Maine/Mt. Blue).
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