GORHAM, Maine – Seniors
Dylan Barr (Phippsburgh, Maine/Morse),
Leah Thibodeau (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little) and
Bri Townsend (Newport, Maine/Nokomis) and junior
Julia Elie (Dayton, Maine/Thornton Academy) have each been named co-captains of the 2026 University of Southern Maine Huskies' field hockey team.
Earning second team All-Little East Conference honors as a midfielder last season, Barr had one goal and three assists. A tireless worker in the middle of the field, Barr played and started in each of the Huskies' 22 games, recording her lone goal of the season in a 2-1 road win at Wheaton College. Returning for her second season as a team captain, Barr is a four-year member of the team with 63 career games (39 starts) to her credit with seven goals and seven assists for 21 points. She is an Exercise Science major.
Another key piece of the Huskies' midfield, Thibodeau scored three goals and had an assists in 2026 while starting all 22 games. Scoring the Huskies' game-winning goal against UMass Dartmouth (4-1) in Little East Conference action, Thibodeau also had goals in against University of Hartford and Colby College. Through two seasons, Thibodeau has played in 43 games making 24 starts. Of her seven career goals, Thibodeau has three game-winners. A Health Science major, Thibodeau earned 2025 Little East Conference All-Academic Team honors, and was named to the College Academic All-District team.
A first team All-Little East Conference selection at forward, Townsend led the Huskies in goals (12), game-winning goals (six) and points (27). Recently named to the National Field Hockey Association (NFHCA) Watch List for the 2026 season, Townsend finished second in the Little East in game-winning goals. The Huskies' forward had game-winners against Mount Holyoke (2-0), Saint Joseph's College (3-2 OT), Worcester State (3-0), WestConn (2-1) and Plymouth State (4-1). In the post-season, Townsend scored the deciding goal in the Huskies' 1-0 win over Plymouth State in the LEC quarterfinals. Named to the 2025 OPA NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad, Townsend earned CSC Academic All District Honors. She is a Sport Management.
Elie had a breakout season in 2025 anchoring the Huskies' defense. Playing and starting in each of the Huskies' 22 games, Elie ranked second on the team in defensive saves with four, registering her fourth of the season in the Huskies' 1-0 win over LEC playoff Plymouth State. Elie scored the first goal of her intercollegiate career in the LEC semifinal against Keene State. Elie is a Linguistics major.
Southern Maine opens its 2026 season on the road at University of New England on Tuesday, September 1 (5:30 pm). The Huskies host the University of Hartford in its home-opener on Saturday, September 5 (2:00 pm).
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