The University of Maine women’s soccer team got a big recruiting kick Friday as two of the premier players in Eastern Maine committed to attend the school and play for the Black Bears this fall.

Lee Academy multiple-sports star Shelby Pickering and Hampden Academy standout Kim Stephenson made it official that they would be taking their academic and athletic pursuits to Orono.

“I’m going to miss basketball but I wanted to give Division I soccer a shot,” said Pickering, who will graduate as Lee’s salutatorian next month. “A lot of people told me I have more potential in soccer whereas in basketball, I’m not as big as I should be.”

The 5-foot-8 guard-forward in basketball and forward-midfielder-striker in soccer is getting an academic (top scholar) scholarship from UMaine. She narrowed her list of finalists to Maine and NCAA Division II Nyack (N.Y.) College, which offered her both basketball and soccer scholarships.

“Actually, I did want to go away, but almost all of my friends are going to Maine,” said Pickering, who will live off campus in an apartment with a good friend. “I was really hesitant about giving up basketball and I was looking for a Christian College to go to, but I think being here closer to home and my church, friends and fans will ease the transition.”

Maine assistant women’s soccer coach Jackie Gebhart coached Pickering in club soccer the last few years. The daughter of Thomas and Cindy Pickering is Maine’s all-time leading high school goal scorer with 178 and a 2005 Gatorade Player of the Year. She has also played with several of UMaine’s current players.

The 5-5 Stephenson is a three-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-New England selection and a four-time first team Eastern Maine all-star pick and is Hampden’s all-time leading scorer despite missing almost all the 2004 season with a knee injury. The National Honor Society member was selected to the Region I Olympic Development Program Pool and led her club team to three straight state titles.

“I think, regardless of the fact they’re local products, we only go after kids we think can have an impact on our program and both these girls are more than capable,” Maine head women’s soccer coach Scott Atherley said. “Kim has got exceptional visit and very composed on the ball. The thing I like about her is when you surround her with good players, her game goes to a different level. I think Shelby’s a tremendous athlete. I don’t care what level you’re at, you score that many goals, you’re a talent. Combined with her personality and the fact she’s such a competitive player, I think she’ll be very successful.”

Pickering said she received some extra help on her college choice from her younger brother, who’s a junior at Lee.

“He was telling me where he didn’t want to go because he didn’t want me to go anywhere he was thinking of going,” Pickering said with a laugh.

UM swimming lands recruits

The University of Maine swimming and diving team received four National Letters of Intent and 10 commitments from incoming freshman student-athletes Friday.

Letters of intent came from Mackenzie Grobmyer of Charlottesville, Va.; Courtney Healy of Reading, Mass.; Adi Levy of Givataym, Israel; and Colleen Miller of Missoula, Mont.

Those who committed to Maine’s women’s team were Messalonskee High School student Alyson Wintle of Belgrade; Megan Barret of Farmington, Conn.; and Heather Leach of Atlanta, Ga.

The men’s team received commitments from Bangor’s John Quinn; Veazie’s Kevin Trainor; South Portland’s John Bogart; Alfred’s Doug Moulton; Arthur Moy of Omaha, Neb.; Nathan Richard of Panton, Vt.; and Kyle Thornton of Mmanchester, Conn.

“This is one of our largest classes in a number of years,” said head coach Jeff Wren in a press release. “we expect this class will strengthen and deepen our team in virtually every area.”

Howard to attend Husson

Husson College women’s swim coach Krystal Fogler landed her first blue-chip recruit earlier this week when Bangor High School star Cammi Howard announced her intentions to attend the Bangor-based NCAA Division III institution in the fall.

Husson will have its first team this coming season.

Howard was named a high school All-American thanks to her performance in the State Class A meet in February as she won the 200 freestyle in 1:58.45, finished second in the 100 butterfly (1:01.31) and anchored Bangor’s third place 200 freestyle relay team (1:45.12).

She was named the Penobscot Valley Conference Swimmer of the Year three times.

“She should do real well. She’ll be a pioneer,” said the 25-year-old Fogler, a former University of Maine swimming star. “I look for her to get us off to a good start.”

Fogler admitted she was a bit surprised to land someone with Howard’s lofty credentials but said, “I worked pretty hard to recruit her. I think she believes in me and my philosophy and we get along pretty well.”

Fogler coached the Old Town High School girls swim team a year ago.

Fogler said their first practice will be Oct. 3 and she has 10 regular season meets already lined up in addition to post-season championship meets.

Fogler said there are eight women currently on campus who expressed interest in swimming next season and she hopes to have 16 swimmers at the first practice.

She said recruiting is going “pretty well.”