The UMaine football team, ranked No. 24 in the country, is off to a 4-1 start for the first time since 1998, but Saturday’s homecoming contest against 20th-ranked Villanova opens a tough three-game stretch that includes road games at William & Mary (Va.) and fourth-ranked Rhode Island.

All five of the Black Bears’ remaining opponents have been ranked in the Top 25 this season.

Behind a stifling defense that hasn’t allowed a touchdown in the last three games, coach Jack Cosgrove’s Bears have won three straight. Confidence is not an issue.

“It’s a nice situation to be in,” Cosgrove said. “Every one of our kids, their self-esteem, their pride grows every day. Those are winning feelings.”

Still, UMaine isn’t getting ahead of itself, especially realizing the magnitude of Saturday’s game.

“There’s a perspective that has to be kept on this thing,” Cosgrove added. “This is getting real exciting … but in its purest and simplest form, it’s just your next opponent in a great league.”

UMaine’s last three victims – James Madison, Richmond and Northeastern – have a combined record of 3-13, including 2-10 in conference play.

Villanova (4-1) has played four of its first five games at home, but is bound to be fired up after dropping a 17-14 decision to Division II New Haven last week. And the Wildcats feature one of the most elusive multipurpose running backs in the country in Brian Westbrook, who is averaging 237 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returns) per game.

UM Sports Hall inductions set

The University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame is preparing for Friday night’s induction banquet at the Wells Conference Center on the Orono campus.

John Winkin, Linwood “Woody” Carville, Alan Switzer Jr., Deb Smith, Peter McPhee and Roy Warren are this year’s honorees.

UMaine athletics spokesman Joe Roberts said more than 200 people are planning to attend the dinner and ceremonies.

Soucie, Jose lead USM tennis

Former Caribou High School teammates Emily Jose and Ashley Soucie have been instrumental in the solid season put together by the University of Southern Maine women’s tennis team.

Soucie and Jose have played all of the Huskies’ No. 1 and No. 2 singles matches and have also been regular doubles competitors for coach Wayne St. Peter.

With one match remaining today against Endicott College, Soucie has compiled a 6-5 singles record and is 9-6 in doubles play. The freshman is 3-3 as USM’s No. 1 singles player, a role she has shared with Jose.

Soucie has teamed up with Michelle Zajac to go 4-0 in doubles play, including a victory in the third flight during last weekend’s Little East Conference Championships at Gorham.

Soucie also reached the singles finals, dropping a 6-4, 6-4 match against Carminda Rocha of Rhode Island College in the third flight.

Jose, a sophomore, has been plagued by a nagging back injury this fall, according to USM Sports Information Director B.L. Elfring. Even so, she went 3-8 in singles as the No. 1 or No. 2 player.

Jose compiled a 6-9 doubles mark, including a 6-7 mark playing with Sarah McLean.

In the LEC Championships, Jose advanced to the singles finals in the first flight, but retired because of the back injury while trailing 6-1, 3-0 to eventual champ Kristina Sandelin of UMass-Boston.

Jewell Iannetta of Dover-Foxcroft also competed for USM this season. The junior was 6-9 in doubles action and won two singles matches.

Cullenberg to coach Beavers

Kelley Cullenberg of Farm-ington will take over as the head women’s cross country coach at the University of Maine-Farmington, the school announced Wednesday.

Cullenberg, the longtime boys and girls cross country coach at Mt. Blue High in Farmington, has resigned that position, effective at the end of the 2001 fall season. She has guided the Cougars to three consecutive Class A state championships and has been named the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Coach of the Year six times.

Cullenberg presently holds the title of associate head coach at UMF along with her husband, Arvid Cullenberg. The Beavers are hoping to repeat this season as Maine Athletic Conference and NAIA Region 10 champions.