Kristin Smith, the new field hockey coach at Boothbay Region High School, realizes that this is a rebuilding year but she is hoping the team will be competitive nonetheless.

Smith, who is beginning her second year of teaching seventh grade at Boothbay Region Elementary School, takes over the coaching ranks from Kate Iuzzolino, who guided the Lady Seahawks to two straight playoff appearances. However, most of those players who made the playoffs are gone (including nine seniors from last year's squad) and the 2013 team is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores.

“We do have players with a lot of natural talent,” said Smith, who is coaching for the first time. “It's a matter of using that talent to become a good team.”

Smith's field hockey background includes playing back and mid positions at Hampden Academy and intramural at the University of Maine, Orono.

Returning veterans include senior co-captains Tori Schmid and Brooke Alley. Other returnees include juniors Shaw Pinkham, Taylor Walby, Nicole LeBrecque, Kirsten Latter, Kanisha KuyKendall, and newcomer Ashley Reed. Sophomores include Nicole Rice, Skyler Davis, Meghan Oakes, Caroline Witwicki and Samantha Carter. The freshmen Lady Seahawks include Elisabeth Wright, Mackenzie Abbott, Aryn Markee, Alexis Welch and Erica Eames.

Smith said she is still working on positioning players on offense and defense, but her two goalies will be Skyler Davis and Erica Eames.

Boothbay will open the season Friday, Sept. 6 at home against Winthrop at 4 p.m. at Perkins Field. Boothbay has a score to settle with the Ramblers after losing to them three times last year and being knocked out of the playoffs the past two years by the girls in green.