The new Sprinturf on Maine Maritime Academy’s Ritchie Field has received great reviews.

The synthetic turf fiber with an all-rubber infill has replaced the 13-year-old knitted, nylon AstroTurf-type surface.

“It’s the best surface around,” said MMA men’s soccer coach Dave Patterson. “It’s the same as having a very well-maintained Bermuda grass field and it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. The kids think it’s fabulous. You don’t get bad bounces and it’s a little less forgiving than the old turf if you fall on it.”

MMA quarterback Brandon Hamilton said “it’s a dream. Thank God for [MMA athletic director] Jim Dyer getting us this field. It’s about a billion times better than the old turf.”

Senior linebacker Brian Guillerault said the Sprinturf is “good and cushy and fast. You can get your traction on it.”

“It’s a lot better. Last year, the turf was really old so it slipped a lot. But this stuff is really nice,” said Guillerault.

Junior running back Jon Farrin said, “The last turf was like a carpet and it got balled up. This is a lot softer and you’re allowed to wear regular cleats or turf shoes on it. The cutting on it is a lot better.”

Sophomore lineman John Logus said when it rained last year, it was “hard to run” on the old turf.

“You had to wear shoes on it. You couldn’t wear cleats. Your feet came out when you ran on it sometimes. This is great. It’s more forgiving when you fall on it,” said Logus.

Bridgewater State College quarterback junior quarterback Greg Borsari gave the turf the ultimate compliment.

“It’s very nice. We need to get some of this for our field,” grinned Borsari.

The turf cost approximately $450,000.

USM, UMF name Hall inductees

The University of Southern Maine will induct six former student-athletes into the Husky Hall of Fame on Saturday and the University of Maine-Farmington will induct five into its Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The USM inductees are former All-American field hockey and All-Region softball player Meredith Bradley Bickford, Class of ’98; All-American soccer player James Corcoran (’82); three-time Little East Conference women’s basketball player of the year and All-American Joanna Brown Cormier (‘2000); baseball All-American Peter Misiaszek (’95), basketball star David Tamulevich (’74) and soccer-basketball standout Tammy Knowles Trent (’93).

Three other people will receive special awards. Jacques J. Morin (’69) will receive the Richard A. ‘Doc’ Costello Achievement Award for his commitment to student-athletes through his softball umpiring career; Dr. Dennis J. Sullivan will earn the David F. Drew III Service Award for his volunteer service to the athletic department and Hannaford Bros. will receive the Clifford O.T. Weiden Award for its continued support of the athletic program.

The 1956-57 men’s soccer program will be honored to celebrate the 50th anniversary of men’s soccer.

Tickets are $30 and the festivities begin at 6:15 at the Kenneth Brooks Student Center in Gorham.

At UM-Farmington, the inductees will be volleyball star Kristi Gallop Emery (1984-88) and basketball standouts Kristi Hardy-Gilson (86-90), Donna Storey Kane (85-89), Mike Nelson (85-89) and Vincent Sculco (85-89).

Admission is $20 and the social gathering, followed by the buffet dinner, will begin at 6 p.m. at the North Dining Hall in the Olsen Student Center.

UMaine, BU square off tonight

The University of Maine women’s soccer team, 8-0-1 and ranked 22nd in the country, and Boston University’s 8-2-1 Terriers, ranked 10th, will square off in an America East showdown tonight at 7 at Nickerson Field in Boston. Maine is ranked nationally for the first time in the school’s history while BU is enjoying its highest ranking ever.

The teams are 1-1-3 in their last five meetings. BU beat Maine in penalty kicks in the 2003 AE championship game and 2-1 in double overtime in last year’s title game.

“It should make for a very exciting game,” said Maine coach Scott Atherley. “We’re in a great situation. We’re the underdog. There’s no pressure on us.”

Maine is led by striker Laura Harper (6 goals, 2 assists), the league’s leading scorer, along with goalkeeper Jasmine Phillips, who is fourth in the nation in save percentage (.936) and seventh in goals-against average (.319). BU features striker-midfielder Lauren Erwin (3 goals, 4 assists), the AE Player of the Week the last two weeks, and goalie Stephanie Dreyer, who is 14th in the country in GAA (.432) and save percentage (.889).