Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

Richmond senior Danica Hurley signed a Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play soccer at the University of Maine.

“I knew I was already going there but this makes it official,” said Hurley, who helped the Bobcats win a pair of Class D state championships. “It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. I focused a lot on Maine. A big goal of mine was to go there and play there.”

Hurley scored 38 goals this fall and finished her high school career with 104.

UMaine coach Scott Atherley said Hurley stood out this fall because “she was a finisher.”

“A lot of players can get into the right spot at the right time, but Danica always was able to get the ball on the net,” he said. “That’s hard to do.”

Atherley, whose team went 5-9-1 last season, said Hurley has the potential to step in and contribute right away.

“I think she can, yes,” he said. “It’s going to be a big transition, though.”

Wednesday was signing day, when recruits could formerly commit to colleges or universities.

Also Wednesday, Maranacook senior Abby Mace confirmed she is heading to UConn, where she will compete in cross country and track.

“I’m very excited,” said Mace. “UConn is a good fit. I know it will be a big transition.”

UConn women’s cross country coach Andrea Grove-McDonough relayed an interesting story how Mace caught her attention.

“Abby filled out a questionnaire online and we get hundreds of them all the time,” she said. “I sift through them and put together three groups: Yes, no and maybe. I saw that she wrote a blog and started reading it. That caught my attention. So then I did some research and saw some her scores. She was a bit under the radar.”

Grove-McDonough added that she had never recruited in Maine before — until Mace came along.

“Maine has some talent,” she said. “We have a few kids on our radars. I’ve never recruited anyone out of Maine until this year.”

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