Growing pains were expected.

So was actual growth.

Both were experienced by the University of Maine women’s and men’s soccer teams this fall.

There was only one America East win and a tie between them but the foundation was laid for the future and both coaches expect their teams to challenge for a playoff berth soon.

The top four teams in the nine-team conference earn playoff slots.

“I was very pleased with the season,” said second-year women’s coach Scott Atherley. “Statistically, we scored as many goals this year, 22, as we did in the previous two years combined. We set a school record for fewest goals allowed with 23. We allowed 38 last year. Freshmen scored 19 of our 22 goals and we had four players with 10 or more points. The previous best here was two.

“When you assess those critical statistics and consider the fact we started an average of seven freshmen, how can I not be pleased with the progress of the program?”

The women went 5-10 overall but six of the losses were by one goal. Maine went 1-7 in league play.

Atherley said he anticipated his team’s midseason and late-season struggles.

“At the beginning of the season, before school started, the new players’ focus was much more specific to just soccer,” said Atherley. “As the players got more into the academic demands, homesickness and the wear and tear of practicing on a daily basis at this level, they didn’t have the same form or confidence. That is typical of all first-year players I have ever coached.”

Atherley has a promising nucleus led by junior Nancy Dillingham, who was moved from sweeper to the midfield late in the season, and America East All-Rookie Team selections Annie Hamel and Katie Hodge. Striker Hamel led the team in scoring with four goals and four assists and midfielder Hodge had two goals and five assists.

Hodge will debut for Team Canada against the United States in Ohio this weekend.

Midfielder Kate Crawford (4 & 3) and strikers Jessica Wojcik ( 4 & 2) and Dominik Bertrand (4 & 2), who are all freshmen, had productive seasons although Bertrand left school for personal reasons afterjust eight games.

Bertrand is expected to return next semester.

Freshman midfielder Jen Buckley; sophomore back Kelly Singer and junior back Mary Miller started all 15 games and freshman midfielder Kim Walsh started 12.

Sophomore Naomi Welsh (3-7 record, 1.75 goals-against average, .705 percentage) returns in goal.

The one key loss will be striker Jessie Wratz (3 & 1).

As for recruiting needs, Atherley said, “We need a real strong center back, an attacking central midfielder and a left side flank player.”

Erika Harris of Rumford, a freshman striker who didn’t play for personal reasons, could give the team a boost if she plays next fall.

First-year men’s coach Travers Evans said his team was a “little inconsistent which was a product of playing a lot of young players. We had a talented group who got a lot of experience. We played very well at times but we also had games in which our inexperience showed and we made young mistakes.

“But I’m really upbeat about the direction we’re going in. A lot of young players received a significant amount of experience which will really help us down the road,” added Evans, whose team went 3-11-2 overall, 0-8-1 in America East.

All-America East pick Russell Hutchison (6 & 2) graduates but the midfielder and fullback Jason Skilling were the only seniors.

Next year’s nucleus will be headlined by strikers Rob Dow (3 & 2), Chris O’Connor (2 & 2) and Greg Bajek (2 & 2) along with midfielders Keith Moore, Luke Garner, Mike Manfre, Eric Lemont and Justin Woycke; midfielder-back Jack Rioux, versatile Drew Mayer and backs Matt Young and Scott Showalter.

All are either freshmen or sophomores.

Junior goalies Mat Cosgriff (2-7, 2.40, .681) and ike Brenneman (1-4-2, 2.31, .680) will also return.

Evans hopes to bring in a player at each position who will fight for playing time.

Dimitrakos to return Friday

Junior right wing Niko Dimitrakos, the University of Maine’s top returning scorer from a year ago, will make his debut against Merrimack College Friday night after being sidelined with a broken left wrist. He suffered the injury during preseason.

Dimitrakos had 11 goals and 16 assists in 32 games a year ago including the game-winning goal against Boston College with two seconds remaining in the Hockey East championship game.

He was chosen the Hockey East Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Two years ago, he was the only freshman chosen to the NCAA Frozen Four all-tourney team.

He has 19 goals and 35 assists in 67 career games.

Dimitrakos will play on a line with sophomore center Chris Heisten and senior left winger Dan Kerluke and could see power play duty.

“I don’t think he’ll have a big impact because it will be his first game back and he won’t be game sharp,” said Maine coach Shawn Walsh. “But our team needs offense and he should be a guy who can [eventually] give us some offense.”

Walsh isn’t sure how much Dimitrakos will play but said it is important for him to get game sharp because the Bears have a stretch of four games in nine days beginning at UMass-Lowell on Nov. 17.