UMaine field hockey qualifies for tourney Women’s soccer will also vie for league title

The University of Maine field hockey team, which is coming off a 2-1 double-overtime victory Sunday over Albany, has qualified for its fourth consecutive America East tournament.

Coach Terry Kix’s Black Bears, who are 12-4 overall and 4-1 in league action, will be among the four teams in the event scheduled for Nov. 5 and 7 at Barry Field in Cambridge, Mass., the home field of league rival and conference regular-season champion Boston University (11-5, 5-0 AE).

UMaine will finish as either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, depending on the outcome of Saturday’s home game against nemesis Northeastern (14-3, 4-1 AE). Regardless of the seeds, the Bears and the Huskies will square off Friday, Nov. 5, in an 11 a.m. semifinal.

UMaine played in each of the last two America East championships, both against Northeastern. The Huskies earned a 2-0 victory last season and took a 4-0 win in 2002.

UMaine wraps up its regular season at home Sunday with a noon non-league game against Colgate.

The Bears have won four in a row since a 3-2 loss to BU on October 9. Rachael Hilgar leads the team in scoring with seven goals and seven assists for 21 points.

Kasey Spencer of Old Town has netted a team-high eight goals (8-0-16) while Traci Rainone (7-2-16) and Meagan Connolly (5-5-15) have also been productive. Goalkeeper Jamie Morin owns a 12-4 record with a 1.15 goals-against average and an .823 save percentage.

UMaine women clinch playoffs

The UMaine women’s soccer team has clinched a spot in the America East tournament for the second straight season.

Coach Scott Atherley’s Black Bears are 11-4-1 overall, 5-2 in conference play, heading into their final two games at Albany and Stony Brook on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

UMaine, which has won four in a row, would lock up a first-round bye with two wins this week. It still has an outside shot at earning the America East regular-season title and the top seed for the tournament, which begins Tuesday, Nov. 2, at the home fields of the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds.

However, league leader Northeastern (11-4-2, 5-1-1 AE) can clinch the No. 1 seed with a victories in its last two games.

The semifinals and finals will be held Friday, Nov. 5, at the home field of the top seed. In the semis, the No. 1 seed takes on the Nos. 4-5 winner and the No. 2 seed faces the Nos. 3-6 winner.

The title game is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 7.

Last season, the Bears reached the championship game where they played to a scoreless overtime tie against Boston University, which prevailed in penalty kicks.

UMaine has registered 10 shutouts this season behind a strong defense and goalkeeper Tanya Adorno, who has a 9-4-1 record with a 0.56 GAA and an .822 save percentage.

Adorno recently posted her school record-setting 18th career shutout. The Bears defense, which has allowed only eight goals this season, is led by seniors Allison Kelly and Emily Stevens.

UMaine football reserves produce

The UMaine football team’s depth came into play again during Saturday’s 35-26 Atlantic 10 victory over Northeastern at Alfond Stadium in Orono.

The Bears got a bit banged up in the offensive line as starting senior right tackle Mark Lehner went down with a left ankle injury on the third play of the game. Later, junior left guard Evign Dodge of Berwick was shaken up and forced to take a few series off.

Brian Quinn, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound junior, stepped in for Lehner and did an outstanding job. He started 14 games at left guard in 2002 for the Bears.

In the third quarter, sophomore Justin Roberts (6-3, 285) replaced Dodge. He and Quinn helped UMaine march 59 yards on five plays for the go-ahead touchdown.

Roberts appeared in four games last season.