The University of Maine-Farmington has locked down the top seed for both women’s soccer and field hockey as the North Atlantic Conference gears up for its fall sports championships beginning with Saturday’s quarterfinals.

The Beavers earned the No. 1 seed in women’s soccer by virtue of a 13-4-1 overall record, including a 9-0-1 conference mark.

Coach Bob Leib, in his 38th and final year of coaching at UMF – his 12th guiding the women’s soccer program, awaits No. 8 Johnson State (8-7, 4-6 NAC) for a 1 p.m. game Saturday.

The Beavers are paced by Chelsea Norton (10 goals, 3 assists) and Jackie Mrazik (10 & 1) along with goalkeeper Kerry Kowalczyk (13-2-1, 0.32 goals-against average, .879 save percentage).

Husson College of Bangor (11-6-1, 9-1 NAC) is the No. 2 seed and entertains No. 7 Maine Maritime Academy of Castine (9-7, 4-6 NAC) in its 1 p.m. quarterfinal on Saturday.

Coach Keith Bosley’s Eagles, the defending conference champions, are led by Megan LaJoie (10 goals, 6 assists), Megan Clement (8 & 5) and goalie Tatyanna Wolterbeek (1.09 GAA, .837 save pct.).

In Saturday’s other women’s soccer quarterfinals, No. 3 Castleton State hosts No. 6 Bay Path and No. 4 Lesley entertains No. 5 Elms.

In field hockey, UMaine-Farmington also emerged as the top seed on the strength of a 10-5 overall record and a 7-1 league mark.

Coach Cynthia Pratt’s Beavers, the 2006 NAC champions, surrendered only two goals in eight conference games. Goalie Kaeleigh Barker was 10-5 with six shutouts, posting a 0.98 GAA and an .882 save percentage.

Offensive standouts include Kristin Chambers (10 goals, 3 assists) and Amanda Fortin (6 & 2).

UMF is preparing for Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. quarterfinal against No. 8 Elms (2-14, 1-7 NAC) at Farmington.

Husson is also the third seed in field hockey. Coach Sharon Tracy’s Eagles (10-4, 7-1 NAC) slipped two spots after dropping a decision to No. 2 Castleton State in their final regular-season contest.

The catalysts for Husson include sisters Erica Dorso (11 goals, 9 assists) and Elisha Dorso (8 & 6), along with goalie Kelly Bocchino (2.14 GAA, .756 save pct., 4 shutouts).

The Eagles host No. 6 Thomas College of Waterville (5-6, 3-5 NAC) Saturday at 6 p.m.

In men’s soccer, Castleton State finished as the No. 1 seed at 10-7-1 overall, 6-1-1 in league action.

Husson (8-9-1, 5-2-1 NAC) earned the third seed behind Becker (14-5, 6-2 NAC), while UM-Farmington (6-4-5, 4-2-2 NAC) was fifth and Thomas (7-8-3, 2-5-1) seventh.

Coach Seth Brown’s Husson Eagles will play a home quarterfinal Saturday against No. 6 Lesley (8-9-1, 3-5 NAC). The Eagles’ top performers include Joshua Bartlett (7 goals, 1 assist), Nathan Carter (6 & 3) and ‘keeper Miguel Dominguez (2.15 GAA, .726 save pct., 3 shutouts).

UMF, which travels to Elms in the first round, looks to Jeff Tatarczuk (5 & 2) and Andrew Harner (3 & 0) to set the tone in front of Brian Lemont (6-4-5, 0.84 GAA, .882 save pct.).

Thomas, which visits Becker, is paced by Tim Costa (8 & 2), Jim Grant (5 & 1) and goalie Russell Beckwith (4-3-1, 1.69 GAA, .759 save pct.).

UMF to add men’s lacrosse

UMaine-Farmington athletic director Julie Davis announced Wednesday that the school plans to add men’s lacrosse as a varsity sport.

Men’s lacrosse will attain varsity status in 2010 after playing as a club program during 2008 and ’09.

Earlier this year, UMF announced it was adding women’s lacrosse, women’s golf and men’s volleyball. However, a last-minute shift in conference membership led to men’s volleyball being relegated to club status.

DeWitt honored by Northeast-10

Stephen DeWitt of Ellsworth, a graduate student at UMass Lowell, recently was named the Northeast-10 Conference Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

DeWitt won the individual title at the conference championship meet, covering five miles in 25 minutes, 7.7 seconds while leading the River Hawks to a share of the NE-10 team crown.

Joey DeWitt, Stephen’s brother, also was named to the all-league first team. The senior earned the honor for the third consecutive year after finishing fourth in the NE-10 meet in 25:28.7.