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The Husson College women’s soccer team was back at practice in Bangor Monday after Sunday’s rough-and-tumble North Atlantic Conference title victory over the University of Maine-Farmington.
The Eagles responded with what coach Keith Bosley called a lively workout.
Husson has reason to be excited after earning the NAC’s automatic berth to the 60-team NCAA Division III tournament for the second straight season.
The 13-7-1 Eagles travel to Springfield, Mass., for today’s 1 p.m. NCAA first-round game against Springfield.
“Over time, as we’ve recruited and as we, as a team, have developed some experience, our aspirations go to that level,” Bosley said. “They just want to keep going.”
Springfield, which went into the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference tournament ranked No. 21, makes its second NCAA appearance in three years. The Pride (15-2-1) claimed one of 22 at-large berths after losing in the quarterfinals of the NEWMAC tourney. Both of their losses came to teams ranked in the top 10.
“We feel like we really match up with them,” Bosley said. “They’re the same sort of working class team and school.”
Today’s winner plays Williams (16-0-0) Saturday at Williamstown, Mass.
Bosley said Husson’s testy nonleague schedule, which included the likes of NCAA teams Wheaton, Union and Bowdoin, helped prepare the Eagles for postseason-caliber competition.
Husson’s success this season might seem a bit unexpected considering the Eagles usually start five or six freshmen, two or three sophomores, two juniors and a senior.
“It really came along,” Bosley said.
Many of his underclassmen previously played in highly competitive travel leagues.
“All in all, they just seem to be accepting of the next challenge,” he added.
The Eagles built their success this fall around an aggressive 3-4-3 alignment, which enabled them to score goals and keep pressure on opponents.
“We’ve been pretty attack-oriented,” Bosley said. “Our defensive strategy is to play in the other team’s end.”
The philosophy also helped Husson, which hasn’t allowed a postseason goal, compensate for the loss of 2006 NAC Player of the Year Shelby Pickering, who had offseason foot surgery.
The team’s leadership has come from the likes of senior defender and captain Meredith Homer and junior forwards Katie Nickerson (6 goals, 7 assists) and Laurie Melen (2 & 1).
Husson’s offensive catalysts are freshman Megan LaJoie of Van Buren, who leads the team with 32 points (13 & 6), and forward Megan Clement of Brunswick (10 & 6). The versatile LaJoie also is one of the Eagles’ best defenders.
Junior goalkeeper Tatyanna Wolterbeek of Wells (0.90 goals-against average, .849 save percentage) has capably replaced record-setter Leah Drew.
Frosh central defender Caitlyn Butterfield (5 & 1) has been a staunch force in the back alongside seniors Martine Daigle of Madawaska and Homer.
Freshman midfielder Amy Sanz (7 & 5), junior forward and playmaker Katie Nickerson of Belfast (6 & 7), junior mid Samantha Homer (4 & 1), and UMaine transfer Kylan Smith of Presque Isle (2 & 2), a central midfielder, have been among Husson’s other mainstays.
The Eagles feature plenty of depth with Michelle Manning, Danielle Larusso, Danielle Lau, Kayla Cobb and Caitlin LaBorne.
“We’re looking to take the next step,” Bosley said.
UMF field hockey in NCAAs
NAC field hockey champion UMaine-Farmington also has advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Beavers (13-5) visit ninth-ranked Middlebury (13-4) today in a 1 p.m. first-round game at Middlebury, Vt.
UMF, which has won four conference titles in five seasons, has been paced this season by Kristin Chambers of Gorham, Amanda Fortin of Jefferson and goalie Kaeleigh Barker.
Senior back Renee Trafton of Corinth, a former Central High standout, has been a key performer for the Beavers.
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