There is good news and bad news from the University of Maine-Fort Kent athletic department.

A very disappointed UMFK athletic director, Wulf Koch, called Monday morning with the news, and he wanted to get the bad over with first.

Koch had just spent two hours on the phone, calling athletic directors of teams on UMFK’s women’s basketball schedule, to inform them UMFK was cancelling its program for the 1992-93 season.

The cancellation was particularly distressing to Koch, who was going to coach the team. Only two women came out, he said.

“We had a 15-game schedule, and that was hard to get. It was hard to call and cancel.”

UMFK has had trouble sustaining women’s basketball for several years, even cancelling mid-way through the season in the past. Koch is baffled by the lack of interest.

“I’ve spoken to several prospective players, and to several who’ve played years before,” he said. “I get all kinds of quotes on why they don’t want to play.

“Some say they don’t want to ruin their social life. Some say there is too much bickering among female athletes. Others say they’re working halftime; and others say they just don’t have the time.”

Asked if it might be commuters don’t compete, Koch said he didn’t believe that was a factor.

“Our dorms are full; filled to capacity,” he said. “I don’t think that’s it. It’s frustrating. Everyone has told me not to take it personally, but I am very disappointed.”

With that off his chest, Koch turned to the more positive news: women’s soccer.

Last year, UMFK faced, in volleyball, what it has faced in basketball: the inability to complete the season for lack of players. So Koch went looking for answers again.

“The consesus was, there was more interest in women’s soccer than volleyball, so I went to the administration with that,” he said.

“We held up the decision for a while, and started indoor soccer to see how many would come out. We had 9 to 12 kids, and that was reason enough to go with it in order to accommodate more female students.”

Once he had the numbers, Koch came up with a 13-game schedule, and a coach in fifth-year student Yassin Ali Hashi. Having played for UMFK, he brought solid, first-hand experience with him.

“Yassin did a good job with the team. It’s too bad he’s leaving,” Koch said of the program that finished 5-8. “But I am hoping to get a woman in that position next year.”

Fifteen players suited up, including many freshmen who were an unexpected bonus.

“I think this is here to stay,” Koch said.

He is hoping a solid fall program will breathe new life into the women’s winter program, following the footsteps of the men where several athletes play two sports.

Koch was pleased with the first season. “It is a decent start,” he said. “We got our legs under us when we got banged up 14-1 by UMPI, but then we beat a team from Canada 11-1, and that helped.”

Canada helped in other ways, providing solid experience in Canadian senior transfer Andrea Muldrew, a forward who scored eight goals.

Freshman Kristan Voisine of Fort Kent and University of New England transfer Lisa Landry of Madawaska each had five goals and three assists.

Goalkeeper Katrina Hilinski of Skowhegan met success on the college level, recording shutouts against Westbrook College and St. Louis Amillet of Edmundston, New Brunswick.

“Granted, they only had one game in the district,” Koch said of NAIA District 5 East, “but they did tremendously well for the first year.”