Their record may be 0-2, but the Husson College Braves still managed to come away from Saturday’s 35-28 football loss with plenty of positives to point out.

Freshman quarterback Lee St. Hilaire of Winthrop is the primary reason for Braves fans to smile after he completed 19 of 40 passes for 327 yards, one touchdown and one two-point conversion pass. He threw for 171 yards after a turf toe injury caused him to leave the game late in the second quarter.

“I had my toe planted and I didn’t get any give from the turf,” said St. Hilaire, who was sacked four times and intercepted twice.

Husson put up 410 total yards to Mount Ida College’s 461.

“I just thought it was a great effort by our guys. We didn’t give up and we left it all out there on the field,” said St. Hilaire, who expects to be able to play this week against Bluffton College in Bluffton, Ohio.

The X-rays on Hilaire’s toe were negative as far as a break and the freshman QB has practiced all week for the Braves, according to school officials.

The Braves will miss the partisan confines of Winkin Sports Complex, where an impressive crowd of 1,500 fans turned out to watch Saturday’s game.

“It’s great to have that kind of support. It makes us want to be home every week. That was an awesome crowd,” St. Hilaire said.

MMA women’s soccer opens 5-0

Even with the prospect of playing in a newly expanded North Atlantic Conference, the Maine Maritime Academy women’s soccer team has bolted to an impressive 5-0 start.

Coach Craig Dagan’s Mariners are averaging 5.2 goals per game while outscoring their opponents 26-1 thus far.

Amazingly, freshman Jessie Taylor of Orland has already equaled MMA’s single-season scoring record with 10 goals. Taylor, an East Class B All-Star last fall while leading Bucksport High to a state runner-up finish, also has provided three assists.

MMA’s other big gun is sophomore Amy Asselin of Auburn, who already has racked up nine goals and four assists after tying the school record with 10 goals a year ago. She was the NAC Rookie of the Year and a first-team all-star last fall.

Other key scorers for the Mariners include freshman Ashley Brooker of Limestone (four goals), frosh Kristen Gaylord of Auburn (two goals, one assist) and frosh Kristin Gabor of Woolwich (one goal).

Sophomore Meg Marshall of Madawaska has registered four shutouts in five contests. Defensive mainstays include senior Heather Jackson and juniors Stacy Jones of Bath and Jen Robbins of Jefferson.

The Mariners are certain to establish other school marks. Well within reach already are the single-season records for goals (29), assists (17) and wins (7).

Fifield named USM golf captain

Ashley Fifield of Buxton has been named the captain of the University of Southern Maine golf team this fall.

Fifield, a junior from Buxton, is a two-year letterwinner for coach Reggie Grant and has been among the Huskies’ top five players both years. He had an 82.6 stroke average in 2001.

USM women list soccer captains

Senior Rachel Kwantz of Wiscasset, Molly Tanguay of Yarmouth and Springvale’s Andrea Bacon have been chosen the captains for the University of Southern Maine women’s soccer team.

Kwantz, a goalkeeper, has seen only limited playing time her first three years, but has earned the respect of her teammates. Tanguay has developed into one of the top defenders in the Little East Conference. Bacon has been a standout back after beginning her career as a midfielder.