Auburn, ME - Samantha Belardo (Russell, MA), a 2017 graduate from Gateway High School is transferring to Central Maine to join the Mustangs for spring of 2018.  Belardo comes to the Mustangs after a very successful high school career.  She was a three-time All-League selection (sophomore, junior, senior) and a two-time All-Western Massachusetts All-Star (junior, senior), playing in the senior All-Star game.  She finished her high school career with 34 goals and 16 assists on a team that was a regional finalist.  Samantha will be coming into the criminal justice program       

According to Mustangs Head Coach Rob Rodriguez, "Samantha is a true striker, someone who can play well with her back to the goal, using her creativity with the ball to beat multiple defenders.  She moves effortlessly around the field and because of that is deceptively fast and can change speed better than most players can.  With excellent foot-skills and the ability to make just the right touch she is the type of player who creates a lot of excitement when she gets the ball because you know something good is about to happen.   I watched her score the game winner in a 1-0 game that I was sorry to see end because I enjoyed watching her and her team so much." 

When asked about her decision to transfer to CM, Belardo explained, "I liked the small campus, the criminal justice program, and the soccer team.  Playing in college will be a completely new level and it is like stepping into a new chapter of soccer.  I feel as though my hard work and dedication to the team, as well as my ability to take shots and finish will help the team from day one."