The University of Maine athletic department has announced that its soccer programs have added five student-athletes for the 2008 season.

The Black Bear men have received commitments from four players, while the women’s team has landed one player.

UMaine men’s coach Pat Laughlin is set to welcome in first-year players Adam Loiacono and Willis Ponder, along with transfers Nikola Bogdanovic and Jake Ostrov.

The quartet brings to 14 the number of commitments received this year by the Black Bear men’s program.

UMaine women’s coach Scott Atherley also announced the addition of Courtney Harnais for the 2008-09 season. She is the sixth player to announce her intention to attend UMaine in the fall.

Loiacono is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound back from Cranston, R.I., who was a two-year captain and a three-time all-division pick at Cranston West High School.

“He is a powerful athlete who also has a good touch,” Laughlin said in a press release. “Adam does a good job organizing in the back and communicates well.”

Ponder (5-10, 180) is a goalkeeper from Austin, Texas. He was a high school all-star as a striker but played goalkeeper for the Lonestar Red 90 soccer club.

“Will is an aggressive goalkeeper with a solid background,” Laughlin said. “He is a good shot-stopper who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet.”

Bogdanovic (5-10, 160) is a midfielder from Belgrade, Serbia, who played the last two seasons at Oral Roberts University. He made 26 starts in 35 games, earning a spot on the league all-newcomer team in 2006. Bogdanovic also captained the Serbian National U-16 team.

“Nikola is an excellent passer who has a great deal of experience,” Laughlin said. “I feel that Nikola will make a big contribution to Maine soccer this fall.”

Ostrov (5-9, 160), a forward/midfielder from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is a transfer from Manhattan College. He played 14 games, starting four, last fall.

“He is a very technically clean player,” Laughlin said. “His experience at Manhattan and with his club team will help him to settle in quickly at Maine.”

On the women’s side, Harnais is a 5-4 midfielder/defender from Braintree, Mass. She helped lead the Cape Cod Lady Crusaders to the 2007 U.S. Club National Championship.

Harnais was a four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, Mass., where she was a senior captain.

“She is great in one-on-one situations both in attack and defense,” Atherley said. “She is versatile and can help us in a number of positions.”

All NLI signings and commitments are contingent upon admission to UMaine and compliance with NCAA initial eligibility guidelines.

Sanborn nearing 400th victory

Will Sanborn, the head baseball coach at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, is closing in on his 400th career coaching victory.

Sanborn took a career record of 395-241-6 (.621) into Friday’s Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader against Norwich.

The Monks, who have an 18-12 record this spring, also play host to Rivier for a Saturday GNAC twinbill in Standish.

Sanborn arrived at Saint Joseph’s in 1992 and his teams have won 20 or more games 11 times. The Monks came into 2008 having won 30-plus games each of the last three seasons.

This is the first season for Saint Joseph’s in the GNAC. The Monks won the North Atlantic Conference crown the previous three years.

Fischer receives UMS honor

Suzanne Fischer, an athletics marketing intern at UMaine, has been named the Maine University System student-employee of the year.

The marketing major was selected from among 22 finalists at UMaine’s Orono campus and then was entered into the system-wide competition. She also will be considered for regional accolades.

Fischer has assisted the athletic marketing staff in numerous capacities, including helping with the Bananas Cub Club, facilitating in-game promotions and contests and assisting with the Class of 1944 Super Fans Contest.

UMaine athletes join fundraising

Members of the University of Maine Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will take part in a fundraiser next week to benefit the March of Dimes.

Several student-athletes will be serving a benefit dinner April 24 from 5-8 p.m. at The Sports Caf?, located at 19 Mill Street in Orono.

All gratuities generated from the meal will be donated to the March of Dimes.

The SAAC also will participate May 4 in the March for Babies walk in Brewer. That event also benefits the March of Dimes.

For more information on these and other community service events, contact UMaine community service coordinator Brandi Rideout at 581-1828.

UM to showcase summer camps

The numerous summer camp opportunities at the University of Maine will be presented during a Summer Camp Showcase scheduled for April 24 from 4-6 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center.

The program will provide information about UMaine’s Sam Sezak Summer Sports Camps, with 11 of the Black Bears’ head coaches, including men’s hockey coach Tim Whitehead, football coach Jack Cosgrove, women’s basketball coach Cindy Blodgett and baseball coach Steve Trimper, slated to be on hand.

UMaine also will promote its campus recreation camps and recreation activity day camps, its outdoor adventure camps and its overnight canoe camping trips. UMaine’s summer youth music program also will be represented.

Prior to the Summer Camp Showcase, families may use the rec center pool, free of charge, from 3-4 p.m.

More details are available at www.umaine.edu/campusrecreation/.