Before she became the director of athletics at the University of Maine, Suzanne Tyler had established a reputation as a highly successful college field hockey and lacrosse coach at the University of Maryland.

Tyler has been recognized for her coaching prowess by being included in a new book entitled, “Celebrating Women Coaches, A Biographical Dictionary.”

Tyler is among 42 contemporary coaches recognized in the book written by Nena Rey Hawkes and John F. Seggar. Other notable women profiled include basketball coaches Sylvia Hatchell and Vivian Stringer and field hockey coaches Beth Anders and Marisa Didio.

“I’m very honored to be in that group,” Tyler said. “There are a bunch of very well-known women.”

The biographical segments are based on interviews with the coaches and attempt to point out the commitment, hard work, and service the women have provided in numerous sports.

Tyler did express concern about some minor factual inaccuracies that appeared in the portion about her and mentioned that some successful and well-known women coaches were conspicuously absent from the book.

One such woman was Bonnie Gros, who coached field hockey at Ursinus College after playing on the United States’ field hockey and lacrosse teams in the 1960s.

“She was a great coach,” Tyler said. “She taught me to do what you think is right, that to be unconventional and follow your own heart is OK.”

NAIA honors UMFK’s Hobbs

Tracie Hobbs of the University of Maine-Fort Kent has been named a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics scholar-athlete for 2000. She was the only representative from the Maine Athletic Conference on the squad.

The junior from Madawaska, who is majoring in elementary education and behavioral science, served as the Bengals’ soccer captain this fall.

NAIA scholar-athletes must play a varsity sport and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

“I was amazed and overwhelmed. I was so excited, I cried,” said Hobbs, who also plays on UMFK’s basketball team, is vice president of the student senate, and is a teaching assistant.

But her most important responsibility is being a mother to her 5-year-old daughter Taylor.

“Juggling a schedule that often includes early morning practices and studying late into the night is not always easy, but my time with Taylor is my top priority,” Hobbs said. “I am very thankful that my family, friends, professors, and coaching staff are so understanding.”

Weed shines for Husson women

Husson College senior guard Leslie Weed of Freedom continued her outstanding play last weekend when she earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Regis College Tournament in Weston, Mass.

Weed is averaging 13.3 points per game for coach Kissy Walker’s team and is shooting 56 percent from the field, good for second in the Maine Athletic Conference.

Braves teammate Leslie Trott of Brewer also made the All-Tournament squad.

Elsewhere on the Husson front, senior guard Liza Doughty of Hermon is closing in on the school’s career assists record for women.

Doughty went into Tuesday night’s game at Thomas needing 12 assists to eclipse the mark of 352 held by former Presque Isle standout Darci Collins. Doughty’s 13 assists against UMaine-Machias on Nov. 29 established a Husson single-game record.

Blanchard adjusts to college ball

Former Presque Isle High School star Brianna Blanchard appears to be making a smooth transition to college basketball at Division II St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H.

The 6-foot freshman guard has emerged as the Saints’ leading scorer, averaging 13.6 points to help St. Anselm post a solid 4-4 start this season.

Blanchard leads her team in minutes played (24.9 per game), 3-pointers (13), and steals (13) and ranks second in 3-point percentage (.302), fourth in rebounding (5.7 rpg), and third in assists (15).

Rodgerson reaches 1,000 points

Amanda Rodgerson of the University of New England went over the 1,000-point career scoring plateau during Monday night’s game against UMaine-Farmington.

Rodgerson, a junior from Newburgh who played her high school ball at Hampden Academy, scored 27 points in the contest while becoming the 12th UNE women’s player to reach 1,000 career points.