University of Maine interim women’s hockey coach Stacey Livingston is one of four finalists being considered by UMaine athletic director Sue Tyler to coach the team in its inaugural season as a varsity sport.

Tyler said Friday all the candidates but Livingston have Division I coaching experience. Tyler, who was given the recommendations for the four finalists Thursday, said the process of naming a coach could take as long as a week.

First, Tyler has to call each of the four candidates and their references, then she has to offer the chosen candidate the position. As of late Friday afternoon, Tyler had not yet spoken to any of the four.

Because the team will compete in the ECAC Alliance, it cannot start dry-land training until Oct. 15. It can begin practice on the ice Nov. 1.

Tyler said the search committee, led by David Ames, associate director of athletics and recreation, did not prefer any one candidate. Each of the candidates visited the campus and was interviewed by the search committee.

“There is no clear absolute. I’m not even sure if they’re all still interested,” Tyler said. “They weren’t recommended in any order. The sooner we hire one the better. It may be as long as a week.”

Ames said the four finalists were chosen from a pool of 15 applicants, most of whom came from the East Coast. Neither Ames or Tyler would name the three other finalists.

The Black Bears club team complied an 11-4-2 record and qualified for the ECAC Alliance playoffs last year under first-year coach Livingston, who was named the Alliance’s Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches last year, her first year as head coach.

Livingston played at UMaine for four years and served as an assistant coach for one.

The University of Maine and Husson College baseball teams have begun their fall schedules.

Maine, which was scheduled to open Friday night, is taking on a team of Canadian college-age standouts this weekend.

Coach Paul Kostacopoulos’ Black Bears take on the Canadian contingent for single games Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at noon at Mahaney Diamond in Orono. Admission is free to all fall games.

The weekend series is part of UMaine’s seven-game fall schedule. Kostacopoulos and his staff have much to learn about this ballclub, which is laden with newcomers, especially pitchers.

The fall campaign continues Sept. 20 and 21 with single games against Division III national champion University of Southern Maine. On Sept. 27 and 28, the Bears take on the Community College of Rhode Island.

Coach John Kolasinski’s Husson ballclub faces the Canadian team for a 1 p.m. doubleheader today, then plays Thomas College at 4 p.m., all at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor.

The Braves face the Canadian team Sunday at 10 a.m. at Mahaney, then play Thomas at 4 p.m. at Mansfield.

UMaine Sports Information Director Joe Roberts reports there are plenty of good seats available for today’s home football opener against UMass.

Roberts said Friday approximately 2,200 tickets had been sold. The temporary setup at Alumni Stadium can accommodate 4,000 fans in the bleachers and has plenty of standing room.

Three Colby College women’s ice hockey players have been chosen to participate in one of two ECAC All-Star games against the United States National Women’s Ice Hockey team during its pre-Olympic schedule. Colby College alumna Barb Gordon will play on the national team.

Mules senior defenseman Ann Mortenson, sophomore forward Shannon Kennedy and senior forward Meaghan Sittler will play against the national team in the first of two games on Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. in Concord, N.H.

The two all-star teams are made up of current ECAC players nominated by league coaches last season then selected by a group of league coaches during the national team tryouts.