UM problems in secondary could continue

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Pass defense was a glaring weakness for the University of Maine football team last season.

It appears not much has changed this year, judging from the Black Bears’ performance during the first two games of ’94.

Maine has surrendered 56 points, with six of the seven touchdowns allowed coming on pass plays. The opposition has completed 32 of 51 (62.7 percent) passes for an average of 259 yards per game, 16.2 yards per completion.

That does not bode well for this weekend, as Maine is preparing to entertain defending Yankee Conference champion Boston University, which employs the ever-dangerous run-and-shoot offense.

Senior safety Greg Mikell’s return against Rhode Island was a plus, but the secondary remains a relatively inexperienced unit.

Sophomore cornerback Alon Byers is still learning, while senior Robert Tubbs has had a tough time making the switch from tailback to cornerback. Freshman free safety Derek Carter, who redshirted last year, has shown promise, but still lacks game experience.

Freshmen Jamie Brown, who has been slowed by an injury, and Greg Archie may provide some help at cornerback in the coming weeks. Junior Greg Kelley, the backup strong safety, has missed the first two games with an injury.

“We’re pretty much down right now,” Mikell said after the loss to Rhode Island. “That was a game we thought we should have won. Everybody’s feeling a lot of hurt. Everybody just wants to put it behind us and get a win Saturday against BU.”

Wounded Bears: sophomore offensive guard Brendon Parker of Haverill, Mass., is expected to miss the rest of the season with a compressed vertebra in his back, according to Maine sports information director Matt Bourque.

Parker experienced what were thought to be back spasms two days prior to the season opener against Central Florida and had not played this fall.

Sophomore defensive end Jason Agren suffered a fractured collarbone against Central Florida and missed the Rhode Island game. He is expected to make a quick recovery and could play within the next couple of weeks.

Bill Ashby, the third-year soccer coach at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, should have his best team yet this fall. But his biggest hurdle is the schedule.

MMA is in NCAA Division III and only 12 of the 52 eastern teams qualify for the postseason. Four go to the NCAA Tournament and eight go to the ECAC Tournament.

“I must have called at least 40 of the 52 schools and very few will play us,” said the 33-year-old Ashby. “We even offered to go there and we offered to pay for meals and housing to have teams come to our place.”

Ashby winds up having to schedule several NAIA schools, “and in the eyes of the people who rate the strength of schedule, the NAIA schools don’t factor in well.

“We’re just going to keep playing and build the best program we can,” said Ashby, whose record is 25-11-1 at MMA. “After a while, if we keep knocking at the door, somebody will answer.”

MMA has 10 starters back and is off to a 2-0 start.

“The biggest improvement I’ve seen is in our defense,” said Ashby. “The defense is shaping up quite nicely. Our midfielders have made more of a defensive commitment this year.”

MMA allowed 48 goals a year ago while scoring 64.

Goal scoring shouldn’t be a problem because school record-holder B.C. Voyou (53 goals in 35 games) has returned. He is joined up front by fellow Liberian Jon Harvey, who had 15 goals last season. Voyou had 27 in 1993.

Also back is attacking midfielder Paul Kenney, who owns the career record for assists with 28. He had six goals and 20 assists a year ago.

“Teams are going to have to score a lot of goals to beat us,” said Ashby.

Manning the back line will be sweeper Nate Cook, stopper Chad Wozniak, who missed last year due to reconstructive knee surgery, and outside fullbacks Seth Brown and Ryan Reed. Brown transferred to MMA from Southern Maine.

Veterans Ben Strunk, Kenney, Garrett Lappin and James Cunningham give the Mariners a good midfield.

Freshman Mark Thibodeau from Orono and sophomore Derek Conlin will share the goaltending because Carlton Thurlow has decided not to play this year.

Ashby said the team chemistry is much improved over a year ago.

Officials at the University of Maine-Fort Kent are assessing Officials at the University of Maine-Fort Kent are assessing the school’s athletic program and its future.

Athletic director and soccer coach Dick Strockbine said an i Athletic director and soccer coach Dick Strockbine said an internal committee has been established to plot the direction of the athletic program.

Last year, UMFK belonged to the National Small College Athletic Association and Strockbine said they will probably rejoin the NSCAA in time for basketball season.

They are not affiliated with anybody at this time.

The New England Small College Conference has been formed this year under the NSCAA umbrella and a northern division consists of Unity, UM-Augusta and the state’s four technical colleges. UMFK would probably be placed in this division for basketball.

UMFK had been affiliated with the NAIA for several years.

“We’re looking at our options and I’m confident we’ll end up doing what is best for the school in the long run,” said Strockbine.