BANGOR – The Cyr bus had more passengers than anticipated earlier in the week.

And that was good news for the Husson College women’s basketball program.

Fourteen women, 11 of whom were eligible to play, boarded the bus bound for the University of Southern Maine and Friday night’s tournament game against the host Huskies.

Earlier this week, the program was down to seven players, including six first-year players.

Nine of 10 veteran players decided not to return to the program for a variety of reasons, including academic responsibilities and philosophical differences with first-year coach Harold Williams last season.

Dean of Education Jim Doughty, who also oversees the athletic department, asked former 12-year head coach Kissy Walker to return to the program to help the team in the second year of the transition to Williams. She agreed to return as an assistant.

Encouraged by Walker’s return, five veteran players, who had been recruited by the popular Walker, returned to the team Thursday night and aired their concerns and expectations to Williams at a meeting.

“We came back to help the program and because we felt coach Walker could complement coach Williams,” said junior forward Megan Hughes of Dexter.

“Coach Walker definitely had an influence on our decision to come back. We’re comfortable with her. She will help coach Williams because she gives him someone to talk to and she has a lot of experience,” Hughes added.

Junior center Caroline Fry of Walpole, N.H. said, “It feels good to come back and help coach Williams out and the school is helping us out by bringing coach Walker back. It’s good to be back.”

Hughes said they will definitely “have to dust off a little rust” but likes the potential of the team.

“We’ll get back into shape and get used to playing with the new guys and then, hopefully, we’ll peak toward the end of the season and be up there in the tournament,” said Hughes.

Sophomore forward Nicole Poirier of Tewksbury, Mass., the one veteran who was already with the team, said “we’re glad everyone is back. That will help us out. We’re going to have a good coaching staff and everything will be better.”

Hughes and Poirier also said Liz Boone, another veteran, has indicated that she intends to return for the second semester. She didn’t return primarily due to her academic course load.

Freshman Holly Gracie of Frankfort said the team struggled in a couple of scrimmages because they had just six players.

“It’s hard when you don’t have any subs. It’s great to see more people here. I’m more than excited to play with them,” said Gracie.

Walker and Williams were both elated with the response from the returnees at the Thursday night meeting.

“It was an outstanding meeting,” said Williams, who led the Braves to a 9-15 mark last season. “We cleared the air. Kissy is going to be a great addition. She’s going to help me deal with the kids in a more positive manner and with some of the other issues they had. Some of it was a lack of communication on my part. And it’ll be great to have her on the bench. I’ll be able to bounce ideas off her. She has a wealthy of knowledge.”

Kissy added that she felt the meeting went “very well” and that she was “very impressed” with the open dialogue between Williams and the veterans.

“The players said they wanted to put everything aside and were excited about playing. And Harold said he was excited to have all of them back. I think there’s going to be a whole team unity thing and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Walker, whose Brave teams went 236-95 in her 12 seasons.

Maine hockey lands two forwards

Two forwards who had previously given their verbal commitments to the University of Maine’s hockey program have signed their letters of intent.

Luchiano Aquino, a 5-foot-10, 175-pounder, leads the Wexford Raiders of the Ontario Provincial Hockey League in scoring with 16 goals and 25 assists in 21 games.

Keith Johnson, a 6-0, 185-pounder, has eight goals and seven assists in 13 games for the New England Junior Coyotes in the Eastern Junior Hockey League.

“Luchiano is an exciting forward with game-breaking speed who can score goals. And he’s a tough competitor,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “Keith is a fierce competitor who can make plays in traffic and has a great sense of the game.”

Luchiano is the brother of former Merrimack College star Anthony Aquino and Johnson’s older brother, Gregg, plays for Boston University.

The admission of all student-athletes is contingent upon following NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Black Bear baseball signs two

Ross Cantara of Biddeford and Matt McGraw of Burlington, Ontario, have signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Maine in 2003 and participate in the baseball program.

Coach Paul Kostocopolous announced the signings this week.

Biddeford High’s Cantara led the Southern Maine Activities Association in RBIs, home runs and stolen bases and was named an SMAA second-teamer at shortstop. He hit .368 last season with five home runs, three doubles and 24 RBIs.

McGraw, a catcher, was selected to the Ontario Provincial Team and was a member of the Ontario 18-and-under team and the Ontario Youth Team.