ORONO – A year ago, the University of Maine Black Bears killed off 81 percent of their opponents’ power plays. That’s not bad but could be better. And Maine surrendered two power-play goals, including the game-winner, in the 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota in the… Read More
It’s amazing how much things can change in the course of a year. Last season, the University of Maine football team went into postseason play with more questions than answers. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
The University of Maine’s hockey coaching staff will occasionally take a defenseman and move him to forward. Michael Schutte and Kevin Clauson are the most recent examples. Schutte, who passed up his senior year to sign a free agent contract with the Phoenix Coyotes last… Read More
ORONO – Stephen Cooper’s presence in the middle of the University of Maine defense is a big reason the Black Bears are headed to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs for a second straight season. Cooper’s impact is so significant that the senior from Wareham, Mass.,… Read More
BANGOR – The Cyr bus had more passengers than anticipated earlier in the week. And that was good news for the Husson College women’s basketball program. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for… Read More
You couldn’t have scripted a better ending to a marvelous career. University of Maine-Farmington standout senior midfielder Megan Woodcock and her teammates left for the NAIA National Soccer Tournament in St. Charles, Mo. on Wednesday. The 15th-seeded Beavers, 14-3-2, will face No. 2 Union College… Read More
After a year away from the program to play professional basketball overseas, Andy Bedard has returned to his alma mater. The former two-time All-America East first-team selection is back with the University of Maine men’s basketball team as an assistant coach. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
University of Maine quarterback Jake Eaton, who left Saturday’s game at Richmond with a knee injury, is holding out hope he might be able to return if the Black Bears can win a few more games. The senior captain, who has been diagnosed with a… Read More
ORONO – Versatility, intensity and defensive instincts. Those are some of the key qualities University of Maine women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp found in her 2002 recruiting class. Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor, Ashley Underwood of Waterville and Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa of Apple Valley, Minn., make… Read More
There is a renewed sense of urgency and intensity surrounding the University of Maine football team this week. Coming off Saturday’s disappointing 37-13 home loss to Delaware, coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears find themselves in a four-team battle for the Atlantic 10 championship. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
The University of Maine men’s basketball team is garnering some attention in national circles as well as New England and the state. Most publications who do so predict Boston University to defend its America East conference title, but Maine is picked no worse than fourth… Read More
The Maine Maritime Academy women’s soccer team capped its most successful season ever last weekend. MMA’s season ended with Sunday’s 2-0 North Atlantic Conference quarterfinal loss at Lasell College in Auburndale, Mass. The Castine-based Mariners closed the season with a 6-7-3 record. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
The UMaine women’s basketball team has been working diligently during the preseason. Tonight, the Bears have a chance to show what they’ve learned. UMaine takes on Istrobanka Lokomotiva, a club team from the Slovak Republic, in a 7:30 p.m. exhibition game at Alfond Arena in… Read More
ORONO – For the five seniors on the University of Maine’s field hockey team, the script couldn’t have been written any better. But there is a chapter remaining. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More
Husson College’s Bruce MacGregor was named this year’s Sunrise Conference golf coach of the year. Ask him and he’ll acknowledge that. But then he’ll quickly tell you he had nothing to do with it. “We’ve had very talented young men and very good people,” MacGregor… Read More
ORONO – The University of Maine football team is beat up. That makes this the perfect week for coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears to have an open date in their grueling 12-game regular-season schedule. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Seniors Jesse Carlton of Chatham, Mass., and Joe Drapeau of Biddeford have been named the 2003 team captains of the University of Maine baseball team, according to coach Paul Kostacopoulos. The captains are selected by a team vote. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
Center Keith Johnson, younger brother of Boston University junior center Gregg Johnson, has verbally committed to attend the University of Maine and play for the Black Bear ice hockey team rather than join his brother at BU. “I liked both schools. Both programs are top-notch. Read More
ORONO – Julie Veilleux was disgusted last March when the University of Maine women’s basketball team was knocked out of the America East tournament in the quarterfinals for the second straight season. The junior swing player from Augusta doesn’t want that to happen again. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
University of Maine field hockey coach Terry Kix has never beaten the Northeastern University Huskies. The 12th-year coach would like to end that trend Sunday at 1 p.m. when her Black Bears entertain the Huskies, 12-2 and ranked eighth in the country entering a Friday… Read More
Willie Nelson’s hit song “On the Road Again” extolled the virtues of heading out on the open road. The University of Maine football team hasn’t developed that kind of affection for travel, but the Black Bears nonetheless have happily embarked on another road trip, this… Read More
The Husson College golf team is preparing for Monday and Tuesday’s New England Golf Coach’s Association Tournament at the Captain’s Golf Club in Brewster, Mass., after a regular season in which the team won eight tournaments and had a combined head-to-head record of 70-5. “They… Read More
ORONO – University of Maine hockey coach Tim Whitehead got exactly what he wanted during the Black Bear Classic over the weekend: a tournament title and a chance to evaluate his players. Maine edged the University of New Brunswick in an intense struggle 2-1 on… Read More
The Husson College women’s basketball team will take on a new look this season after nine of its 10 veteran players have opted not to return to the team. Second-year Braves coach Harold Williams confirmed that all but one of Husson’s veterans have left the… Read More
Luc Aquino, younger brother of former Merrimack College All-Hockey East second-team selection Anthony Aquino, said he has verbally committed to attend the University of Maine. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Aquino began the week as the leading scorer for the Wexford Raiders (Ontario) of the Provincial Junior… Read More
ORONO – Katherine Quackenbush, a promising freshman on the University of Maine women’s basketball team, is recovering at her home in Nova Scotia after being hospitalized with a severe infection in her leg. Quackenbush, 18, was admitted last Friday to Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences… Read More
It may not be the toughest schedule in coach John Giannini’s seven-year tenure with the University of Maine men’s basketball team, but it certainly is far from the easiest. “I think we have far more games that could go either way and less games where… Read More
Saturday was a memorable day, in different ways, for two University of Maine football players. Ryan Waller and Mark Lehner returned to their home state for the Black Bears’ Atlantic 10 game against James Madison at Harrisonburg, Va. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
A University of Maine appeals committee looking into the school’s suspension of student-athletes Paris Minor and Stefan Gomes is expected to meet over the weekend. University of Maine spokesman Joe Carr said Friday that the committee met Wednesday night to set up the process and… Read More
ORONO – While the University of Maine’s football team is causing quite a stir with its No. 3 ranking in the most recent NCAA Division I-AA poll, the team that shares Morse Field with them has also been having a memorable season. The 8-1 Black… Read More
Representatives of a number of schools, including Husson College athletic director Pam Hennessey, have been in conversations concerning the formation of a new football league. Hennessey acknowledged Wednesday that talks are underway but are in the early stages. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
University of Maine President Peter Hoff is calling upon an experienced trio of longtime university employees to hear the appeals of suspended student-athletes Paris Minor and Stefan Gomes. UMaine spokesman Joe Carr announced Tuesday that Robert Whelan, Anne Pooler and Michael Scott have been selected… Read More
University of Maine President Peter Hoff on Monday continued to work on putting together the committee that will hear the appeal of former UMaine student-athletes Stefan Gomes and Paris Minor. The 21-year-olds, both of whom were juniors on the football team, were suspended from the… Read More
A friendship that began 56 years ago will reach another milestone on Saturday. The dedication of Harold Alfond Diamond will take place on the field located in the John Winkin Baseball Complex at Husson College in Bangor. It will start at 1 p.m. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
ORONO – Rob Kierstead has an innate feel for football, a game in which he has achieved tremendous success. At South Portland High, he played on a team that won 31 consecutive games and two state championships. As a senior, he was a finalist for… Read More
Citing the need to ally with schools of similar size, athletic philosophies and level of competitiveness, three members of the Sunrise Conference (formerly the Maine Athletic Conference) have announced their intention to change their league affiliation. Husson College of Bangor, the University of Maine-Farmington and… Read More
Another week, another impressive win, and for the second week in a row, new heights for the University of Maine football team. The Black Bears began the process by running their record to 4-0 with a 42-12 dismantling of Howard University Saturday in Washington. The… Read More
Colby College emerged from the 2001 New England Small College Athletic Conference football season unfulfilled. The White Mules led the league in total offense and fielded one of the more stingy defenses. They also set eight team and individual records. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
With powerhouse tailback Royston English having departed after four seasons at the University of Maine, one of the primary focuses for coach Jack Cosgrove has been to find a dependable successor. Not even three weeks into the 2002 season, the sixth-ranked Black Bears appear to… Read More
Only two weeks into the 2002 season, the University of Maine football team is setting itself up for another fall to remember. Two days after beating 11th-ranked William & Mary 27-14 at Alfond Stadium in Orono, coach Jack Cosgrove’s 2-0 Black Bears have broken into… Read More
ORONO – They came so close to annexing their third national championship in 10 years last season. But the University of Maine’s hockey team has put the heart-breaking 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota in the NCAA championship game in St. Paul, Minn. behind them. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
ORONO – A week has passed since University of Maine football players Paris Minor and Stefan Gomes were designated as “withheld from competition” for violating team rules. With an important Atlantic 10 clash against conference preseason favorite and 10th-ranked William & Mary looming Saturday night,… Read More
Last year was a transition season for the Husson College men’s soccer team. And it was anything but a smooth one as former Orono High School coach Scott Warman replaced Nate Benoit as the head coach. Warman didn’t come on board until late May, so… Read More
It was a memorable weekend for University of Maine men’s soccer coach Travers Evans. Just as he was to get into his rental car to follow the team bus Thursday for the season-opening Quinnipiac Classic (Conn.), his wife, Johanna, went into labor with the couple’s… Read More
Building depth is among the primary goals of the University of Maine football coaching staff. The Black Bears, ranked 11th in Monday’s Sports Network national poll, were able to get some valuable game experience for numerous players, including several freshmen, during Saturday night’s 52-3 win… Read More
Katie Whittier, a two-time Bangor Daily News All-Maine second-team selection, failed to pass NCAA Clearinghouse requirements and won’t be able to play or practice for the University of Maine women’s basketball team this season, pending appeal. The 6-foot-2 forward from Gray-New Gloucester High School averaged… Read More
ORONO – There was a time not too long ago when University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove dreaded taking his team to play in Portland. And while it’s still not as enticing as a home game on Morse Field, the Black Bears’ 10th-year boss… Read More
University of Maine goalie Lara Smart has been named to the Canadian Under-22 hockey team which will participate in the 2002 USA Hockey Women’s Festival in Lake Placid, N.Y. later this week. The Canadian and American U-22 teams will play a three-game series beginning Wednesday. Read More
The University of Maine football team picked up another preseason top 25 ranking when it was picked 15th in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll Monday. The Black Blacks (9-3 overall, 7-2 in Atlantic 10) were picked 13th last week in The Sports Network’s… Read More
The University of Maine received its first-ever ranking in The Sports Network Preseason Top 25 on Monday in a vote by national media and sports information directors. The Black Bears garnered a No. 13 ranking while three other members in the Atlantic 10 also were… Read More
ORONO – It wasn’t your usual afternoon practice Wednesday on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium. The 26 first-year players on the University of Maine football, in only their second full day of preseason double-session workouts, had the AstroTurf and the Black Bear coaching staff all… Read More
ORONO – A pair of University of Maine athletic department staff members will undertake new responsibilities, interim Director of Athletics Paul Bubb announced Monday. Joe Roberts, who has served as assistant athletic director for media relations, will become the department’s athletic development director. In his… Read More
Did you ever wonder what happens to old sneakers? Nike Grind is a product comprised of ground up basketball sneakers and that substance will be the final layer of rubber pellets that will be placed upon Husson College’s all-weather FieldTurf baseball and football field at… Read More
Six people who carved their own special niche during their time at the University of Maine and brought considerable recognition to the school will be inducted into the institution’s Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 25. Two of them, former 17-year Black Bear hockey coach… Read More
ORONO – There was a hint of baseball nostalgia at Mahaney Diamond in May when the University of Maine played host to the 2002 America East Baseball Championship. The feeling will be short-lived, as the conference announced Tuesday that Vermont has been selected to hold… Read More
The University of Hartford, which in March won its first-ever America East Conference women’s basketball championship, has been selected as the host site for the tournament again next season. America East announced Monday that the Hawks will play host to the 2003 Friendship Cottage Cheese… Read More
Former University of Maine quarterback Mickey Fein, who holds or shares 10 Maine records and four NCAA records, has joined the Black Bear coaching staff as the receivers coach. Fein was the starting quarterback for the Norfolk Nighthawks of the Arena 2 Football League last… Read More
Campbell Blair, who was named an interim assistant coach for the University of Maine hockey team last October, has been appointed a permanent assistant coach and Brian Grady will replace Matt Thomas as the volunteer assistant. Grady is a 2000 graduate of Hamilton College (N.Y.). Read More
University of Maine senior linebacker Stephen Cooper was named to The Sports Network’s 2002 preseason All-America team, the Atlantic 10 conference announced Tuesday. The Black Bears also received preseason attention as a team. They are ranked 13th in an informal preseason top 40 list compiled… Read More
Not taking into account the possibility of attrition, the University of Maine baseball team will remain intact, personnel-wise, for the 2003 season. The annual Major League Baseball amateur draft has come and gone, but none of the Black Bears were selected. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
The Hockey East Women’s League will debut this fall. The University of Maine, the University of New Hampshire, Providence College, Boston College, and Northeastern University, charter members since the men’s conference’s inception in 1984, will be joined by the University of Connecticut. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
Husson College vice president for sports leadership and assistant baseball coach John Winkin and America East Commissioner and NCAA Baseball Committee member Chris Monasch would like to see the University of Maine submit a bid to host one of the 16 four-team NCAA Baseball Tournament regionals in the… Read More
University of Maine junior forward Michael Schutte has decided to forego his final season with the Black Bears and has a signed a free-agent contract with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. “It’s a thrill for me and my family to get the opportunity to fulfill my… Read More
When longtime University of Maine baseball coach John Winkin headed to Husson College in 1997 as the Husson Fellow in Sports Leadership, some considered his new post a largely ceremonial one. Five years later, Winkin has parlayed that position and a dedication to the Bangor… Read More
Now that his program has survived possible extinction due to athletic department budget cuts, University of Maine men’s soccer coach Travers Evans can concentrate on the task at hand: building a team that can begin turning the program around. And Evans, in the wake of… Read More
Martin Kariya of the University of Maine men’s hockey team and swimmer Kate Abbott have been selected for Verizon Academic All-District Teams by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Kariya, a junior center, was named to the first team and Abbott was a second-team… Read More
Jody Benner, a veteran assistant coach for the University of Maine women’s basketball team, has been selected as an AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year. The 31-year-old Benner, a native of Wiscasset, is among 524 college and high school assistant coaches, including five from… Read More
In early April, the Saint Joseph’s College baseball team appeared to be headed for a forgettable 2002 season. The Monks, beset by injuries and trying to integrate several newcomers, had struggled through a seven-game losing streak. But coach Will Sanborn’s team has made a lot… Read More
ORONO – It’s final exam week at the University of Maine and the Black Bear baseball team has shifted its focus to the classroom. UMaine has clinched a spot in the four-team America East Championship, which is scheduled May 23-25 at Mahaney Diamond and can’t… Read More
ORONO – One of the main objectives for the University of Maine football team this spring was to re-establish an authoritative presence in the backfield after the departure of senior Royston English. While the defense tends to get the better of the action during practices,… Read More
ORONO – The University of Maine baseball team’s success and the spectre of eliminating athletic programs have garnered much of the attention on the campus athletics scene recently. Meanwhile, the Black Bear football team has been making frequent forays onto the AstroTurf of Morse Field… Read More
ORONO – While the kickoff of the Division I-AA football season is still four months away, the University of Maine Black Bears have been busily preparing for the much-anticipated regular season. Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Bears, coming off a tremendous 9-3 season that featured a share… Read More
Back in 1998, Narraguagus High School in Harrington sent its 80 graduates in a variety of directions, just like every school does. Two of those grads landed at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. And four years later, those two – Casey Kelley and Nick Lyford –… Read More
ORONO – Though winter refuses to release its grip on eastern Maine, the University of Maine baseball team continues to search for improvement and consistency as it moves into the final three weekends of America East play. The 26-12 Black Bears took three of four… Read More
Paul Bubb, the University of Maine’s senior associate athletic director for advancement and finance, said you can expect the university to sponsor more promotions at their games next season and to aggressively seek revenue to compensate for budget cuts totaling $202,873 for next year. He… Read More
Ed Flaherty, who has directed the University of Southern Maine baseball program for the last 16-plus seasons, recently earned his 500th victory as the Huskies’ head coach. USM provided Flaherty with No. 500 by virtue of a 5-1 victory over the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in… Read More
Alain Picard has been hampered by injuries during much of the 2002 baseball season. That hasn’t stopped the University of Maine junior from making a serious run at the school record for consecutive games with a hit. The lefthanded hitter from Ste.-Foy, Quebec, has hit… Read More
ORONO – The University of Maine volleyball team has received two National Letters of Intent from student-athletes Leah Guidinger and Kaili Jordan, both from Saskatchewan, Canada. Guidinger is a 6-foot middle blocker from Prince Alberta and a member of both the 2000 Canadian Youth National… Read More
ORONO – Neither snowstorms, nor rough seas riding the ferry, nor the 61/2-hour journey from Orono to the Maritime Provinces could keep the University of Maine women’s basketball coaching staff from landing two recruits from Nova Scotia, Canada. Guard Katherine Quackenbush of Halifax and center… Read More
BANGOR – With eight first-year players filling key roles for the Husson College softball team, the squad’s trip to Florida proved testy. But the Braves are finding ways to remain upbeat. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
Husson College of Bangor is a perennial title contender in the Maine Athletic Conference and has earned respect as one of the top NAIA baseball programs in the Northeast. This spring, coach John Kolasinski is trying to mold a Braves squad dominated by underclassmen into… Read More
Bouncing back the weekend after the annual two-week southern trip has often been a difficult proposition for the University of Maine baseball team. The Black Bears struggled a bit Friday and Saturday in non-conference play at New York Tech, but still clawed out two victories… Read More
After compiling a 9-5 record on its spring trip, the University of Maine baseball team returned to Orono with high hopes for the rest of the season. On Wednesday, America East’s coaches admitted that they, too, expect good things out of the Black Bears: UMaine… Read More
ORONO – When the University of Maine baseball team left Orono March 8 for its southern swing, developing a pitching staff hit hard by graduation and major league signings was the main concern for coach Paul Kostacopoulos. The Black Bears returned with a solid 9-5… Read More
Regardless of how the University of Maine baseball team fares in its three-game series against national power Clemson, the No. 2 ranked team in the country, the Black Bears will return to Orono this weekend having laid the groundwork for what should be a successful season. Read More
The Maine Maritime Academy women’s basketball team recently wrapped up the most successful season in the six-year history of the program. First-year coach Craig Dagan guided the Mariners to an 18-7 overall record and the North Atlantic Conference championship by virtue of a 59-53 victory… Read More
Michael Carosi of Bowdoin College in Brunswick has been selected as a first-team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches’ Association. Only six Division III players from across the country were accorded first-team recognition. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
HARTFORD – University of Maine forward Monica Peterson earned one of America East’s most prestigious post-season awards on Wednesday as she was named the league’s rookie of the year, while sophomore Heather Ernest was named a first-team all-conference selection. In other league awards handed out… Read More
University of Maine senior right winger Niko Dimitrakos said his productive weekend (4 goals, 3 assists) against Boston University that led to him being named Hockey East Player of the Week can, in part, be attributed to linemate Marty Kariya. Or, more specifically, Kariya’s hockey… Read More
Sophomore guard Lora Trenkle of Bowdoin College has been named the Player of the Year by the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Trenkle, a former George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill star, averaged 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in the… Read More
BANGOR – The Husson College baseball team will have plenty of new faces in its lineup this season and most of the names will be familiar to Eastern Maine baseball enthusiasts. The first baseman will be Bucksport freshman Craig Harvey, an exceptional hitter for Dave… Read More
ORONO – With one game left in the regular season, the University of Maine women’s basketball team has its sights set on the No. 2 seed for the America East Tournament, which begins March 7 at the University of Hartford’s Chase Arena. Coach Sharon Versyp’s… Read More
It is a name that will be familiar to longtime University of Maine hockey fans. University of Massachusetts freshman defenseman Dusty Demianiuk will make his debut at the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena this weekend, the same arena where his dad, Bill, called home for… Read More
Fans who want to keep track of their favorite Maine Athletic Conference teams can do so with a click of a computer mouse, thanks to the efforts of the University of Maine-Fort Kent. Assistant Web manager Neal Jandreau has designed, and will keep current, the… Read More
ORONO – The University of Maine Black Bear hockey team is facing a crossroads in its season when it travels to Providence College for a pair of games this weekend. Its first two-game losing streak since October, a 4-3 loss at Boston College on Friday… Read More
Lee St. Hilaire, who last fall became the all-time leading passer in Maine schoolboy football history, will continue his career at the University of Maine. The Winthrop High School star, who recently earned the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy as the state’s best senior football player,… Read More
Regardless of the score or game situation, Amanda Rodgerson doesn’t get rattled. Ever since her arrival at the University of New England in 1998, she has been a model of poise and consistency on the basketball court. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
Kate Kovenock of Orono has continued to make waves in her transition to college swimming. The Connecticut College freshman has become the New London school’s first female swimmer in 10 years to qualify for the Division III national championships. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Two weeks ago, Chad Hayes of Old Town was working hard behind the scenes in the University of Maine field house, preparing himself for a chance to get drafted in April or signed as a free agent by a National Football League team. The fortunes… Read More
David Chadbourne makes no apologies for one recruiting decision he regularly makes in his job as head basketball coach at Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, N.H. “I definitely like to have Maine kids,” says Chadbourne, himself a former Maine kid who played his high school… Read More