Pat Bard arrived at Maine Maritime Academy in 2000 hoping to achieve the kind of success he enjoyed during his years at Winslow High School.

Instead, his career with the Mariners has been a challenge.

MMA has won only three games during his four seasons and Bard missed most of the 2001 season with an injury.

In 2003, the Mariners’ quarterback has enjoyed an outstanding senior season. He hopes to go out on a positive note Saturday when MMA (0-8) plays host to Framingham State at Ritchie Field in Castine.

Bard is the lynchpin in coach Chris McKenney’s multiple option attack. The captain has directed an offense that ranks sixth in NCAA Division III with 303 rushing yards per game.

Bard is the No. 9 rusher in the New England Football Conference with 97 yards per contest. He also ranks fifth in pass efficiency at 121.82, having completed 37 of 83 passes for 662 yards and five touchdowns.

Bard is seventh in scoring with 11 touchdowns and one conversion rush for 68 points.

“There’s a lot of confidence in him this year and he’s been running the show great,” McKenney said. “We’re rushing for over 300 yards a game and [382] yards of total offense.”

Bard said the success of the offense is a tribute to hard work and execution.

“The offensive line’s doing their job, everyone’s pretty much doing their assignment every play and good things are happening,” Bard said of the Mariners, who have racked up 25.5 points per game.

The option offense puts tremendous decision-making pressure on the QB, who must decide whether to hand off to the fullback, keep the ball, or pitch to the halfback.

“It’s a really complicated process,” Bard said. “We work on the quarterback focusing on the defensive guy he’s trying to read. After doing it so much, it kind of happens naturally.”

Bard’s best game this season was a 28-carry, 216-yard performance on Sept. 27 against Mass. Maritime. He also has demonstrated a knack for completing big throws.

“We don’t throw a ton, but he’s stepped up in the pocket and hit some nice play-action passes,” McKenney said.

Bard was recruited by former MMA coach Mike Hodgson and played wide receiver as a freshman. McKenney moved him to quarterback in 2001, but Bard missed most of the season with a broken collarbone.

In fact, Bard could return to MMA next fall to complete his eligibility, although he’ll graduate in May with a degree in international business and logistics.

Last fall, Bard started out at QB, moved to cornerback to help shore up the defense, then finished the season at quarterback.

Having been healthy in 2003, he’s been at the top of his game.

“He hasn’t missed a practice, he’s played every play, and in this offense you’re going to get hit and he’s been tough,” McKenney said.

In spite of his personal success, the losing has been difficult. A win Saturday is needed.

“It’s the seniors’ last home game and you want to walk off the field knowing, 30 years down the road, that you walked off as a winner,” Bard said. “It’s a real important game to us.”

AE awards for Maine men

The University of Maine men’s soccer team was honored by America East Wednesday as head coach Travers Evans was named the conference’s coach of the year, Cooper Friend of Ellsworth was named to the AE first team, and Gabriel Germano was picked for the all-rookie team.

Evans’ Bears are 7-7-4 (3-3-3 in AE) in Maine’s best season of the last eight years. Friend is a sophomore midfielder who started all 18 games and had two assists. Germano has played in all 18 games and is second on the team in scoring with three goals and three assists.

USM, Bowdoin players honored

University of Southern Maine field hockey players Jessie Superchi and Deedra Boudreau will join Bowdoin College’s Amanda Burrage on the NFHCA Division III North/South Senior All-Star game In Annville, Pa., Nov. 21 and 22.

The USM duo has helped the Huskies go 15-5 and advance to the Little East Conference tourney semifinals. Superchi is a two-time regional All-American as a goalie who has 10 shutouts and a 0.94 goals-against average. Boudreau is a two-time captain and senior midfielder who has five goals and eight assists.