Tracy, Velas, Corey among 8 to commit to Bears

ORONO – Ellsworth High School forward Kris Tracy is among eight players, five from Maine, who have committed to play for coach Travers Evans and the University of Maine men’s soccer team in the fall.

Tracy was an Eastern Maine and All-State honoree last fall as he scored 28 goals and added eight assists. He led the Eagles into the state Class B title games in both 2002 and 2003.

Joining Tracy are forwards Jimmy Velas of Falmouth, Joe Corey of Winslow, and Seth Byers of Cincinnati; goalkeepers Piner Markovchick of Mount Vernon and Ben Piotrowski of Colchester, Vt.; midfielder Marshall Holmes of Fairfield, and back Daniel Eggert of Allegany, N.Y.

Velas, Corey, Holmes, and Markovchick were each two-time All-Eastern Maine and All-State selections.

Velas led Falmouth to four straight state Class B crowns, was a 2003 National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American, Gatorade Player of the Year for Maine, and Portland Press Herald Player of the Year. He posted 33 goals and 13 assists in 2003.

Corey led the Black Raiders to back-to-back Eastern Maine Class B championships. He tallied 27 goals last fall and finished with 52 for his career, both Black Raider records.

Byers is a transfer from the University of Wisconsin who posted a school-record 70 goals as well as 40 assists in his high school career in Cincinnati.

Markovchick posted a 12-1-1 record and a 0.45 goals-against average as Maranacook of Readfield advanced to the EM A final last year.

Holmes led Lawrence High to the 2002 state Class A title. He finished with 22 goals and 17 assists for his Bulldog career.

Eggert earned league MVP honors last fall and was a two-time All-Western New York and All-State choice. He had 46 goals and 50 assists at Allegany-Limestone High.

Piotrowski was a two-time All-Metro and All-State selection at Colchester High School and posted a 0.71 GAA and .934 save percentage in 2003.

The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to UMaine and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.

The Black Bears posted a 7-8-4 record last fall, including 3-3-3 in America East.