Gutowski named to USA Field Hockey’s New England High Performance Training Center

Published Date Written by Lloyd Jones

CONWAY — UMaine's Abbey Gutowski (Conway) has been selected to join USA Field Hockey's New England High Performance Training Center.

USA Field Hockey High Performance Centers are aimed to identify and train the country's elite athletes who hold a potential future with the National Team. These centers allow the athletes to train close to home, while offering comprehensive training, skill enhancement sessions and premier level competition.

Gutowski was selected to the squad following a competitive tryout process at Boston College in Aril 29. She was one of 25 field players and six goalies chosen for the squad.

Gutowski, the daughter of Kelley and Ben Gutowski, also of Conway, helped guide Kennett High to its lone state championship in field hockey in 2010 while leading Division II in scoring.

A nagging hamstring injury limited the freshman forward to just six varsity games last year, but Coach Josette Babineau is looking for big things from Gutowski this fall and over the next thee years.

While at Kennett, Gutowski was named First-Team All-State in 2010 as she broke the school-record for most goals and assists ... Named Second-Team All-State in 2009 as well as winning the 2009 Deryl Flemming Award ... Competed on the New England Hockeymates squad who won the Club Cup Challenge Championship in 2008, 2009 and 2010 while also compeating with her New England Hockeymates at the Disney Showcase from 2008-11 ... Also was a member of the National Futures, Futures Elite and was the MVP New England Hockeymates tournament.

The New England squad will be coached by Ainslee Lamb of Boston College. Lamb has posted an 86-51 record over seven seasons at the helm of the Eagles. The training sessions will take place on the campuses of Boston College, Harvard and Providence College.

The mission of the High Performance program is to prepare athletes in their respective regions to compete for and make the National training squad. With the format of the National Championship Tournament, the program will truly simulate an athlete's preparation for an international competition.

"Our goal in the region is to provide an elite level training environment for optimal player development and ultimately success as a region at the National Championship tournament," the USA Field Hockey website states. "We aspire to provide our regional athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents and have our team's success yield chances for our players to be invited to train with the national team."