FARMINGTON, Maine – The University of Maine at Farmington field hockey team will open the 2025 season on Friday evening on the road against Smith College in the Caryl Newhof Classic, hosted by the Bears. With the new season set to begin, the Beavers are eager to compete and look to return to the Central Maine Collegiate Field Hockey Conference (CMCFHC) playoffs.

Farmington went winless in 2024, finishing 0-15 against a challenging slate of opponents. After scoring just four goals last season, the Beavers will look to boost their offensive output, led by junior forward Gabby Vincentsen (Bristol, Maine), who recorded one goal and two assists a year ago.

The Beavers also return First Team All-Conference honoree Elizabeth Kendall (junior), who transitions from defense to midfield this season in hopes of adding creativity and offensive production.

In goal, Ella Grant (Sturbridge, Mass.) enters her third season as the starting netminder. Grant has ranked among the top goalkeepers in the nation the past two years, finishing seventh nationally in saves per game last season with 12.20 as a sophomore.

Transfer Zoey Pennell (Saco, Maine) joins Farmington from Saint Anselm and is expected to provide an immediate spark, contributing both offensively and as a stabilizing presence in the midfield.

Defensively, the Beavers will be anchored by senior captain Bayley Casavant (Corinth, Maine), who transitions from midfield to the backline this fall. Casavant will be joined by sophomore newcomer Elizabeth Grondin (Jay, Maine), first-year Hailey Johnson (Augusta, Maine), and senior captain Autumn Freeman (Byron, Maine), a versatile player expected to contribute in multiple roles throughout the season.

Additional key contributors include sophomores Isabel Derosby (Waterville, Maine) and Mikayla Wilcox (Farmington, Maine), along with first-year midfielder Ann Buffington (Enfield, N.H.), who is poised to step in and contribute right away.

With a roster of 24 student-athletes, the Beavers enter 2025 with increased depth, allowing them to stay fresh and apply consistent pressure against opponents.

Season at a Glance

Farmington will play its second game of the Caryl Newhof Classic on Saturday, facing either Westfield State or Gordon depending on the outcome of Friday's opener.

The Beavers' 16-game schedule includes 12 non-conference matchups and four CMCFHC contests, with home-and-home series against both Thomas and Husson. Farmington will host just three home games this season:

• Sept. 15 vs. Saint Joseph's College of Maine (home opener / Morgan's Message Awareness Game)
• Sept. 23 vs. Husson
• Oct. 25 vs. Thomas (Senior Day)

The Morgan's Message Awareness Game on September 15 will highlight the team's ongoing commitment to mental health advocacy and efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding it.

Farmington's Senior Day will be celebrated on October 25 against Thomas College.