D1 Women: Why a return to Maine was the right move for Kristina Kelly

Kristina Kelly pushes the ball upfield for Maine last season. (Maine Athletics)

When Kristina Kelly (Lincolnville, Maine) decided to leave the state of Maine to play collegiately, she said she did so because -- for all of her accomplishments on the pitch as a three-time All-American and United Soccer Coaches National High School Player of the Year at Camden Hills Regional -- she felt she needed to get out of her comfort zone in order to grow as a player and as a person.

When she opted to transfer back to the University of Maine from Central Connecticut State after her sophomore year, the former Windjammer star determined that getting away for two years had served that purpose, and that she was now more than ready to come home.

"You need to be on your own and make your own decisions so you can figure out who you are and who you want to be," she said. "I was able to do that. I realized I didn’t like being away from home. I really like being home with the dogs."