Husson College of Bangor has once again proved itself one of the top golf programs in the Northeast.

Coach Bruce MacGregor’s Braves concluded a sparkling 88-1 season in Division III play Tuesday by claiming their third consecutive New England Division III championship at The Captains Golf Course in Brewster, Mass.

Husson, which finished fifth overall in the 45-team field of Division I, II and III programs, emerged with a healthy 22-stroke margin of victory over Division III runner-up University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

“Obviously, to win the championship one time is great, but to win it three years in a row is pretty spectacular,” MacGregor said Wednesday. “I thought there was a little pressure on us and they wanted to win it badly, so I was curious how we would react.”

The Braves survived a blustery second day of play.

“Things weren’t going well for them a lot of the time because of the wind, but all of them pretty much took care of business within their own foursomes,” MacGregor said. “We were very businesslike about it.”

Husson, which has moved from the NAIA ranks to NCAA Division III play, hopes to earn a spot in the NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championship, which will be played May 10-13, 2004, at the University of Redlands in Calimesa, Calif.

The NCAA has three-person advisory committees in six regions, including the Northeast. Those panels assist in the evaluation of the teams and forward recommendations to the NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Committee, which will choose the participants.

In 2003, three teams from the Northeast advanced, including Williams College (Mass.), Skidmore (N.Y.) and St. Lawrence (N.Y.). A total of 28 teams were represented.

The golf committee will use winning percentage, head-to-head results, results against common opponents; strength of schedule as demonstrated by regional opponents’ winning percentage; results against teams already in the tournament; and (if necessary) matches against NAIA, Division I and II opponents, non-member institutions and out-of-region play may be evaluated.

The committee also may take into consideration place finish in all competition, stroke differential and individual stroke averages.

“We feel we would be right in contention for a birth in that championship,” MacGregor said.

At the New Englands, Husson was again led by standout senior Corey Poulin of Jackman, who finished tied for third overall to earn All-New England honors. One pleasant surprise was freshman Devon Raymond of Waterville.

Raymond, one of four first-year players who scored well for the Braves this fall, earned his way into the tournament after shooting 72-73-145 in the team’s final qualifying practice last week at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

“Devon was the hottest player going into the tournament,” said MacGregor, who explained Raymond, a native of Jamaica, then bounced back from a 41 on the front nine in Monday’s first round to shoot 35 on the back.

Raymond wound up tied for 22nd place overall with sophomore teammate Ross McGee of Fairfield with a 13-over 157.

UMFK players national honorees

University of Maine-Fort Kent soccer players Megan Foreman and Juan Murphy earned national soccer player of the week honors by the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.

Foreman, a senior midfielder from Fort Kent, scored three goals and had two assists as the Lady Bengals went 2-0.

Murphy, a second-year midfielder from Buenos Aires, Argentina, scored four goals and had posted two assists in a 2-0 weekend for the Bengals.

The USCAA is an organization of 52 two- and four-year colleges and universities from throughout the country, including several in Maine, that participate in intercollegiate athletic competition, including soccer.

USM’s Superchi ties saves mark

Jessie Superchi of the University of Southern Maine tied the school women’s soccer career record Wednesday when she turned aside two shots in a 4-0 victory over Framingham State at Gorham.

The senior from Campton, N.H., has registered 470 saves, equaling the mark set by Andrea Guerrette (1998-2001). Superchi also extended her string of scoreless minutes to 270 minutes, 53 seconds by virtue of the shutout, her third in a row, ninth of the season and the 23rd of her career.