Bengals kick off NAIA tourney run today

Undefeated University of Maine-Fort Kent will make its first-ever appearance in the NAIA Men’s National Soccer Tournament today when the Bengals take on the Raiders of Northwestern College (Iowa) at 1 p.m. in Olathe, Kan.

The game will kick off the 20-team tournament.

Bill Ashby’s 20-0 and 13th-seeded Bengals have been paced by Jamaican freshman midfielder Andre Anderson (21 goals, 12 assists), South African sophomore midfielder Emlyn Jacoby (5 & 18), junior striker Andrew Martin (8 & 10) of Van Buren and Jamaican sophomore midfielder Dwayne Smith (9 & 7) along with goalie Derrick Plourde of Fort Kent.

UM-Fort Kent has registered 13 shutouts this season.

The 12-7-1 Raiders of Northwestern College, the 20th seed, are also making their first NAIA national championship appearance, and they have been led by Brad White (11 & 7), Aaron O’Brien (10 & 2), Andy Janssen (10 & 1) and Blake Wieking (7 & 1) along with goalie Ben Schneider (9-4-1, 0.95 goals-against average, .856 save percentage, 5 shutouts).

The winner will play No. 4 seed Ohio Dominican, which ousted UMFK 4-0 in the Region IX semis last fall and 8-0 in the Region IX quarterfinals two years ago. That game will be at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Cosgrove ties Westerman mark

Saturday’s victory by the UMaine football team gave head coach Jack Cosgrove his record-tying 80th career coaching victory.

Cosgrove is now tied with former UMaine coach and athletic director Harold Westerman, whose teams compiled an 80-38-7 mark (.668) in 16 seasons (1951-66).

Cosgrove, now in his 15th season guiding the Bears, has an 80-89 (.473) career record.