Colby College emerged from the 2001 New England Small College Athletic Conference football season unfulfilled.

The White Mules led the league in total offense and fielded one of the more stingy defenses. They also set eight team and individual records.

In spite of those successes, Colby needed to win three of its last four games to finish 4-4.

Colby was plagued by inconsistency and turnovers, and suffered some injuries. The Mules were only 1-3 at Seaverns Field last season.

Coach Tom Austin, in his 17th season on Mayflower Hill, isn’t one for making excuses. He has the Mules working to overcome those deficiencies.

“We’re going to work like the dickens to maximize our potential and see where it takes us,” Austin said.

When Colby opens the season Saturday at Trinity, it will put a veteran squad on the field that should challenge for the NESCAC championship the Mules won in 2000.

Colby, the defending champ in the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin series, returns a nucleus of 36 seniors and juniors and boasts 17 returning starters. The team also should have ample depth.

The offense features most of the key components from a unit that averaged a conference-best 385 yards and averaged 23 points per game a year ago. Senior Pat Conley of Bath and junior B.L. Lippert of Augusta will compete for the quarterback job after splitting duties last year, combining for 1,615 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Mules must replace all-league wideout Danny Noyes, but Jason Cunnane and Lee Carlson have experience there. Ian McPherson is a threat at tight end.

Aaron Stepka, the NESCAC Rookie of the Year, returns at tailback after rushing for 481 yards in 2001. He is complemented by fullbacks Don Williams of Owls Head and Chris Duncombe of Athens.

Colby’s experienced offensive line includes guard Tony DiSotto of Jay, along with tackles Rob Vail of East Boothbay and Jake Seilheimer, and centers Jeff Moyer and Matt Mahoney.

The Colby defense is spearheaded by senior captains and all-league picks Mike Moran and Mike DiStefano. Middle linebacker Moran was an all-league choice after making 103 tackles, while end DiStefano posted 32 tackles.

Linebacker Luke Webster returns after leading the Mules with 108 tackles last fall, when the Mules ranked third in total defense (264 ypg) and fourth in scoring defense (15 ppg). Other LBs include Jeff Owen and Bangor’s James Bradford.

On the line, DT Kevin Smalley and DE Peter Sherman are joined by DTs Dan Parise and Greg Lynch. The secondary looks to cornerback Brandon Irwin and safety Jeremy Jamieson to set the pace, while Guito Joseph, Alex Burgess and Mike Civitello look to step up their roles.

UMPI Hall of Fame to induct two

Cross country star Scott Hutchinson and soccer standout Sarah (Roy) Yates will be inducted into the University of Maine-Presque Isle Owl Athletic Hall of Fame next week.

The hall of fame induction dinner is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the UMPI Campus Center. Tickets and information can be obtained through the UMPI athletic director’s office at 768-9475.

Hutchinson, a native of Eastport, sped along the trails during the early 1980s for the Owls. He was a three-time team MVP and captain and earned a trip to the NAIA national championships.

Hutchinson coached the UMPI cross country teams for one season before moving to Babson College in Massachusetts, where he has been the head coach ever since. He also is the athletic administrator for facilities at Babson.

Yates, who established a state record with 105 goals during her career at Van Buren High, continued her success at UMPI.

Yates finished her career with school records for goals in a game (6), season (24) and career (42) and also holds four other scoring and assists marks. She was an All-Maine and NAIA All-District selection at UMPI and was the third leading scorer in the country as a freshman.

Yates lives in California, where she is on active duty in the U.S. Army.

Lindemann scoring at Milligan

Katie Lindemann, a former standout at Hampden Academy, is having a productive freshman season at Milligan College in Tennessee.

Lindemann, a striker, scored both goals in the Lady Buffs’ recent win over Tennessee Wesleyan. Milligan, an NAIA school, took a 6-1 record into this week’s action.

Former ‘Guagus runners excel

Anne Favolise, Jeremy Tyler and Caleb Paul, all products of Narraguagus High in Harrington, are off to solid starts in the college cross country season.

Favolise, a sophomore at Wisconsin-Parkside, finished fifth overall and was second for the Rangers in a meet at Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She ran a personal best 18 minutes, 45.49 seconds over 3.1 miles.

Tyler, a freshman at UMaine-Machias, led the Clippers and was 13th overall Saturday at the University of New England Invitational. He ran the 4.9 miles in 28:01.

Paul, a freshman at Bryant College, has led his team in two early meets. His 29:42 over five miles was good for 14th overall last weekend in the 10-team Shacklette Invitational.

UMPI hires volleyball coach

Marsha MacEachern has been hired as the volleyball coach at UMaine-Presque Isle.

MacEachern, who played four seasons of volleyball at Emerson College in Boston, replaces Deanne Lowe, who left the area to pursue a career in broadcasting.

The Owls begin Sunrise Conference play Saturday at UMaine-Farmington.