Cloutier, Shute sign with UMaine

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University of Maine interim head field hockey coach Andrea Thebarge has received National Letters of Intent from four players, including two Miss Maine Field Hockey nominees, and has also received five verbal commitments for next season.

Cony High School of Augusta’s Alyssa Cloutier and Norridgewock’s Mallory Shute, both defenders, are the in-state players who signed National Letters of Intent while forward Mallory Anderson of Hampton, N.H., and midfielder Maggie O’Brian of Lehighton, Pa., are the other two.

In addition, goalkeepers Sarah Wyman of Brunswick and Abigail Herrick of Westbrook, Conn.; defender Kady Ackerson of Concord, N.H.; midfielder Jackie D’Amato of Upton, Mass. and forward Lynsey Seymour of Randolph and Gardiner High School have verbally committed to attend Maine.

“This class has a lot of potential,” said Thebarge. “It’s a very talented group. A lot of them have played at National Futures Tournaments and at National Field Hockey festivals. They have a lot of skill.”

Thebarge said she expects Cloutier, Shute, Anderson and O’Brian to battle for starting spots next season with Seymour also vying for considerable playing time.

Cloutier and Shute were named to a variety of all-star teams and are two-time regional All-Americans.

Shute led Skowhegan High School to four state Class A championships.

“I’m real excited to get them. They should see quite a bit of playing time if not starting,” said Thebarge.

Anderson was a regional All-American who holds the Winnacunnet High School record for goals in a career (43) and a season (21) and was the Varsity Magazine Player of the Year for Vermont and New Hampshire last fall. Her sister, Heidi, played at the University of New Hampshire from 2001-2004, and is tied for 44th among all-time scorers at UNH.

O’Brian led her Lehighton Area High School team to the Mountain Valley Conference championship three straight years.

Anderson and O’Brian are gifted enough to “play right off the bat” according to Thebarge.

Seymour is a regional All-American who owns the Gardiner High School record for career assists (34).

Leveille, Tyler aid resurgence

University of Maine men’s hockey coach Tim Whitehead said his lineup is “a lot more solid than it was before” now that senior center Michel Leveille and sophomore defenseman Bret Tyler have four games under their belts after returning from five-game injury absences.

Leveille has had an assist in every game and Tyler has a goal and two assists since returning to the lineup.

Maine is 2-1-1 in those four games and is coming off a win and a tie at Vermont.

“We’ll still continue to tweak the lineup but I really like where we’re at right now. And we’ve got depth. We’ve got guys with a lot of experience who can step in,” said Whitehead.

Leveille and Tyler man the points on the Maine power play and the Bears have gone 6-for-17 (35.3 percent) with the man advantage over the past four games.

Maine went 7-for-33 (21.2 percent) on the power play without them.

The Bears have developed a resiliency of late, outscoring their opponents 15-5 in the third period over the last seven games (5-1-1) with two of the five goals against them being empty-netters.

Freshman goalie Ben Bishop started back-to-back weekend games for the first time since beating UMass-Lowell 9-2 and losing to New Hampshire 4-2 on Nov. 11-12 and responded with 39 saves on 44 shots.

He had been splitting with sophomore Matt Lundin.

In addition to stopping the puck, Bishop has helped his defense corps immeasurably with his ability to play the puck.

“That has been very big for us. He had a great weekend. He’ll play on Friday [against Boston College] and then we’ll either come back with him on Saturday or Matt will play,” said Whitehead.

Bishop made 30 saves in a 2-1 win at Boston College on Oct. 28.

The series against Hockey East leader Boston College this weekend is critical in Maine’s battle for home ice in the Hockey East quarterfinals and an eighth straight NCAA Tournament berth.

Maine is currently 15th in the PairWise Rankings which mimic the NCAA Tournament selection process.

Maine is in fifth place in Hockey East with 25 points, one behind Providence and New Hampshire, and three points ahead of sixth-place Vermont.

BC has 33 points and second-place Boston University has 29.

Maine would lose tie-breakers with Providence and New Hampshire.

“The three and four spots are wide open,” said Whitehead. “[Getting] home ice is important. Down the stretch, I feel two of the four teams are going to emerge and solidify the [third and fourth] spots.”

Maine has two-game series remaining with BC, Merrimack and UMass. Maine will host BC and UMass.