Slow starts have been a bit of a sore subject this season with the upperclassmen on the Husson College basketball team.

Almost to a man, each junior and senior on the roster has been using the same two numbers since preseason practice began: two and five.

That’s what the Eagles’ record was after the first seven games each of the last two seasons. The slow starts put the Eagles in an early hole and forced them to play back on their heels, trying to catch up.

This season, the Eagles feel like they’re on their toes and ahead of the pack, thanks to a 4-1 start including wins in their first two North Atlantic Conference games last weekend.

“We’ve had some early success in conference play before, but we haven’t been 4-1 for a while,” said Husson coach Warren Caruso. “I think it’s been four years since we’ve had this good a start.

“It’s a good feeling for us because we don’t feel like we’re climbing up a mountain to start the season.”

Why the turnaround?

It’s a combination of factors ranging from a solid nucleus of seniors offering veteran leadership in addition to on-court production, an infusion of freshman talent that is maturing quicker than expected, and some immediate dividends paid off by a transfer.

“We have two seniors, four juniors and three sophomores who have played significant minutes coming in, and then when you throw in the positive production from some of the new guys that we’ve had, we’re playing at a higher level than we have this early in a while,” Caruso said.

The key veterans include senior co-captain Jason Harvey, a starting guard from Bucksport; junior co-captain and forward Nick Henry of Penobscot; senior starting swingman Tyler Muzzy of Greenville and junior guard Sheraud Lee.

The sophomores are starting forward Scott Kissinger, guard Blaine Meehan of Hampden, and guard Fabian Figueroa.

The new guys paying immediate dividends are Meehan, who transferred from Thomas College, starting freshman center Martin Cleveland and freshman guard Brock Bradford of Kenduskeag.

Cleveland is averaging 15.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as the team’s No. 2 scorer and leading rebounder.

“Marty’s had a great impact on our season so far and that was something we anticipated, him having that kind of season,” said Caruso of his prized recruit from Portland. “Having him with his inside game, he’s 6-6 and athletic, and he gives us something a lot of Division III teams don’t have.”

The new guys have quickly blended well with the returnees and that seems to have made the difference between winning and losing.

“It’s a cumulative effect with the veteran players. When you have people who know how to react to adversity and tough situations, it helps everyone, especially the young guys,” Caruso said. “Like on Saturday, we were down as much as 10 in both halves and trailed most of the game until the last five minutes. We went back and forth and battled to win it down the stretch.”

Last week’s nonconference game against rival Saint Joseph’s College is another example. The Eagles never trailed, but had to turn back four spirited SJC rallies before finally prevailing 80-67.

“That could have been one of those that got away from us in the past,” Caruso said.

With conference games against annual title contender Elms College and Becker on Friday and Saturday, plus a big nonconference tilt against Central Collegiate Conference power Gordon College next week, the Eagles will continue to be tested.

Reush, Healy named captains

Erin Reusch and Kristen Healy have been selected to serve as captains for the 2007 UMaine field hockey season, interim coach Andrea Thebarge announced Tuesday. Both players will serve as captains for the first time.

Reusch, a midfielder, has played in 55 career games and tallied one goal and two assists. She started all 19 games for Maine this fall. She has been named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I National Academic squad, the America East Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and is a Maine Scholar-Athlete award winner.

Healy, a back, has one goal and two assists in 58 career games. Like Reusch, Healy has been named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I National Academic squad and is a UMaine Scholar-Athlete award winner. She also earned a spot on the America East Academic Honor Roll.

The duo helped lead Maine to a 8-11 mark this season. The Black Bears won five of their last eight games and earned a berth in the America East title game, losing to Boston University.