Despite a rough 1-2 start through the first three games of the season, the University of Maine field hockey team is determined to win the America East Conference this year, and senior captain midfielder Annabelle Hamilton is going to do everything in her power to make that happen.

“The goal for our team this year is to win the America East Conference and be ranked among the top twenty teams in the country,” Hamilton said. “We came back early this year and have worked our tails off.”

The Black Bears find themselves in an early hole after dropping two tightly contested matches against No. 20 Michigan State 5-4 in overtime, and No. 13 ranked Stanford 1-0. The road from here is long and the Black Bears have plenty of time, but every game could prove valuable in the competitive America East Conference.

In the Black Bears season opener, they defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas in convincing 4-0 fashion. In that contest, Hamilton proved to be a facilitator, tallying two assists on goals by junior forward Cassidy Svetek and sophomore forward Danielle Aviani. Being an effective teammate and communicator is something Hamilton has worked on for this season.

“As a captain, it’s important that I am vocal with the team especially in pressure situations in games. Being organized, structured, and collected as a group can have a large impact on the success of our team.” Hamilton said.

“I think that being a leader has many responsibilities and I am always looking for ways to make myself better as a player and an individual,” Hamilton explained. “As a group, we work cohesively and are looking to improve on our communication on the field.”

Hamilton’s handiwork thus far includes one goal, two assists, and four points in three games. She scored the first goal by Maine in their slugfest against Michigan State, leading to a three-goal rally before the overtime loss. But for Hamilton, success on the field starts off the field, where she is a Business Management major with a concentration in International Business.

On top of her time on the field and in the classroom, Hamilton works in the Athletic Business Office and volunteers at the Bodwell Center at the University of Maine. With so much on her plate, it is not easy getting back into the rhythm of school work.

“I find the first few days back to always be a little challenging to change my mind set,” Hamilton said. “The transition back to school has been slowly welcomed after an enjoyable summer.”

The challenge in changing her mindset likely stems from her passion and focus for field hockey, coupled with her positive aspirations for this season.

“I can honestly say that we are not the same team we were last year. It excites me to say that the progress we have made is substantial,” Hamilton said. “We are a much more diverse team, and we bring a lot to the table. I think the biggest thing our team realized was that we just needed to fill our own shoes. We’ve had the skills and the talent we just didn’t know it yet.”

The remainder of the season looks promising for Hamilton and the Black Bears, with two of the toughest opponents they’ll face all season behind them in Stanford and Michigan State. Looking forward, the direction of the squad will likely be determined in the key battles between America East Conference foes Fairfield University, University of Vermont, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and the University of New Hampshire later this season.

“Although it’s only the beginning of the season, we are all very excited about the opportunities that wait ahead and the potential we have as a team,” Hamilton stated. “I think this year we really have put all the pieces of the puzzle together. We know what we want, and we are willing to do what it takes to get us there.”

The University of Maine softball team dropped three of four games this past week to fall to 15-16 on the season. Their sweep at the hands of America East powerhouse Stony Brook University dips their conference record to 6-8 in 2014.

The Black Bears return to action next weekend when they face off in a three-game set against conference foe Binghamton University that begins April 26 at noon. UMaine will honor its seniors on Senior Day during Sunday’s series finale.

Black Bears drop Division-III Husson

The University of Maine softball team geared up for their weekend series against Stony Brook University with a convincing 6-1 victory over Husson University Thursday afternoon. Husson drops to 15-7 with the loss.

UMaine senior pitcher Kylie Sparks had one of her best outings this year, scattering five hits and one run over six innings while striking out five to earn the win.

The Black Bears got to Husson junior starter Amanda Ryan early when, in the bottom of the second, freshman third baseman Shelby Obert walked and freshman first baseman Maddie Moore singled her to third. Freshman center fielder Samantha Ralphs caught the defense off-guard with a bunt down the first base line, scoring Obert and giving the Black Bears a 1-0 lead.

UMaine scored again in the third thanks to freshman shortstop Felicia Lennon who led off with a walk before advancing to third on a single from junior right fielder Jessica Burk and scoring on a deep sacrifice fly to center by junior designated hitter EmJ Fogel for the 2-0 advantage.

Lennon scored two runs on the day to go along with two hits and a pair of walks, reaching base in each of her at-bats.

The Hawks responded just a half-inning later when freshman right fielder Allie Hill sliced a double to the right-center field gap and was moved to third on a single from freshman shortstop Lyndsey Merrill. Sophomore first baseman Chelsea Brennan doubled home Hill to cut the lead to one and give the Hawks their lone run of the game.

The Black Bears broke things open in the fifth.

Junior second baseman Kristen Koslosky singled up the middle and Lennon doubled to left to put runners at second and third. Burk grounded out to shortstop, scoring the speedy Koslosky from third before Fogel knocked in Lennon with a line drive single up the middle. Fogel’s .341 batting average this season is good enough for sixth in America East.

UMaine senior catcher Jean Stevens crushed a two-run homer to left field, pushing the advantage to 6-1. The dinger was Stevens’ second of the season, tied for second on the team behind Burk’s three.

Ryan finished the inning but was replaced in the sixth by sophomore pitcher Kayla Merrill. Ryan fell to 7-5 with the loss, giving up 10 hits and six runs over her five innings of work. Kayla Merrill would pitch just one inning, giving up two hits without a run.

Sparks cruised through six innings before junior pitcher Alexis Bogdanovich was given an inning of work. Bogdanovich struck out two and gave up one hit to seal the win for the Black Bears.

Seawolves hold Black Bears to one run in three-game series

America East heavyweight Stony Brook swept the Black Bears this past weekend with 1-0 and 3-1 wins in a doubleheader on Saturday before taking the series finale 2-0 Sunday afternoon.

Stevens provided the Black Bears only tally on the weekend with a solo home run in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. The Seawolves improve to 25-14 and 13-1 in America East action.

Samantha Ralphs tallied two singles in game one on Saturday, but the rest of the lineup was unable to bring her home. Junior outfielder Jessica Burk hit singles in all three games to up her hitting streak to nine straight games.

Game One was scoreless through three innings before the Seawolves broke up the tie in the fourth.

Their rally began with two outs in the bottom of the inning when sophomore infielder Melissa Phelan hit a double to deep center field. Freshman infielder Lexie Shue came in to pinch run for Phelan and reached home on the next at bat when sophomore catcher Alexandra Pisciotta singled to right field, producing the only run of the ball game.

UMaine’s best scoring chance came in the third inning, but they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

Obert and Ralphs both singled cleanly to reach base before Lennon was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Despite the runners in scoring position, Seawolves junior starting pitcher Allison Cukrov got out of the jam to end the inning.

Bogdanovich earned the loss to fall to 4-6 on the season. She posted great numbers, however, pitching six innings with only one earned run, six hits and four strikeouts.

In game two, Stony Brook earned a two-run lead in the third inning that the Black Bears were unable to battle back from.

Senior catcher Nicole Schieferstein scored the Seawolves’ first run on a failed pickoff attempt at third base. Hill, who got the start on the mound for the Black Bears, overthrew the attempt at third, advancing senior infielder Olivia Mintun to third and allowing Schieferstein to walk in for the 1-0 lead.

Junior outfielder Bria Green followed with an RBI bunt, bringing in Mintun to go up 2-0 at the end of the third inning.

The Black Bears tightened the score to one run when Stevens hit a solo homer, her third of the year, in the top of the fifth.

The Seawolves responded in the bottom of the inning when junior infielder Shayla Giosia hit a home run of her own to left center field, increasing the lead back to two runs.

Cukrov kept UMaine in check for the remainder of the contest, retiring the last nine batters of the game.

She started both games of the doubleheader and pitched the entirety of both games, logging an outstanding 14 innings on the mound with just one earned run, six hits and 10 strikeouts. She now has 11 straight wins at the helm for the Sea Wolves.

Hill recorded the loss and falls to 6-4 on the season, giving up three runs on seven hits.

Sunday’s contest was no different. Stony Brook tallied two runs in the third inning and rendered no runs to top the Black Bears 2-0.

Seawolves sophomore infielder Kellie Reynolds led off the third inning by reaching base on a dropped third strike. The Seawolves recorded back-to-back two-out doubles, including one by junior outfielder Jessica Zeilman, which brought in the only two runs scored in the contest for the 2-0 victory.

The Black Bears best scoring opportunity came in the second inning. Burk’s leadoff single got things started, and Stevens followed with a single of her own to center field. A pair of fielder’s choice plays at third base ended the inning for the Black Bears and eliminated their chance to get on the board.

Sallen earned the decision for Stony Brook, allowing no earned runs through seven innings.

Bogdanovich tallied a career high 12 strikeouts in the contest, but the Black Bears didn’t have enough firepower to help her out. She falls to 4-7 on the season, allowing two earned runs and five hits in seven innings.

Last year, millions of people tuned in to watch the Seattle Seahawks embarrass the heavily favored Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Since then, both teams have taken quite different paths in the offseason, leaving only one as a legitimate contender for a repeat appearance.

The Denver Broncos, as of now, have undoubtedly had the best offseason acquisitions.
A defense that needed improvement found work for edge rusher Demarcus Ware, cornerback Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward. These three players should make an immediate impact on the team.

Ware has been a contender in league-leading sack totals virtually since he entered the NFL. Talib showed how strong and reliable he was during his tenure in New England, and his fresh, young talent should hold No. 1 receivers in check. Ward is coming off a breakout season, recording 123 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions.

This production should not dwindle in Denver.

Despite losing starting running back Knowshon Moreno to the Miami Dolphins, the acquisition of wideout Emmanuel Sanders from the Pittsburgh to increase offensive productivity. These acquisitions show me that Denver is not pleased with being second best, and is looking to not only return to the Super Bowl, but to win one for star quarterback Peyton Manning.

On the other hand, the Seattle Seahawks have lost key defensive starters through both free agency and roster cuts.

Cornerback Brandon Browner left for New England, and starting defensive ends Red Bryant and Chris Clemons are both headed to the Jacksonville Jaguars. All three of these starters were impact players for Seattle defensively, and for their defense to have the same dominance as it did last year without these players seems unlikely.

Wide receiver Golden Tate and tight end Kellen Davis were also lost in free agency, leaving few targets for third-year quarterback Russell Wilson. With no notable free agency acquisitions, one must question if the Seahawks are legitimate contenders for a repeat.
The Washington Redskins have shown that they’d like to improve from their 3-13 season. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson and the Philadelphia Eagles parted ways, and he signed within the division with the Redskins, a move that will likely come back to bite the Eagles. Jackson’s shiftiness and vertical ability are among the best in the league, and he is a first-string wide receiver and punt returner on any roster in the league.

Cornerback Tracy Porter and safety Ryan Clark should earn starting roles on the Redskins roster in 2014 after departing from the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh, respectively. Both players are capable of impacting games and will add consistency to the team’s secondary.

Even with these additions, however, I don’t see Washington competing for the Super Bowl next year. But their offseason activity is steering them in the right direction.

Despite losing running back LaGarrette Blount, inside linebacker Brandon Spikes and Talib, the Patriots have made several moves to improve their roster as well.

The acquisition of cornerback Darrelle Revis has made the biggest splash for the Patriots thus far, and with Revis’ game-changing defensive ability, the loss of Talib stings very little. Browner and Patrick Chung will add more depth to the Patriots secondary, which has seemingly changed faces every season in recent memory.

The best pick-up thus far for the Patriots, in my opinion, is wide receiver Brandon LaFell. LaFell is young and talented, and with quarterback Tom Brady’s skill and ability to work with new receivers and improve their productivity on the field, I expect LaFell to have a breakout season. Brady found a way to get to the AFC Championship with the least-talented receiving corps he’s ever had thanks to his high level of talent that makes many of his youthful weapons better. I expect the same results with LaFell.

It’s very early, but the likelihood of the Pats and Broncos facing off once again in the AFC Championship game doesn’t seem that far-fetched.

The NFC is much more wide open, but the San Francisco 49ers appear to be the favorite with the lack of activity we’ve seen from the Seahawks.

After rubbing my crystal ball, a 49ers-Broncos Super Bowl may be in store.

 ORONO – The University of Maine baseball team played their first set of games on Orono soil this past week, topping the University of Maine at Farmington on Thursday before dropping a doubleheader to Hartford University Sunday afternoon.

The Black Bears — 9-18 overall — will look to improve upon their 1-4 record in America East play in their series finale with the Hawks Monday afternoon.

Balance boosts Black Bears by Beavers

UMaine defeated the UMF Beavers in a 10-1 rout Thursday afternoon in the Black Bears’ home opener at Mahaney Diamond. Both sophomore infielder Shane Bussey and junior outfielder Sam Balzano recorded two hits for the Black Bears in the winning effort.

UMaine got off to a very strong start early in the first inning, opening up a four-run lead.

Senior infielder Colin Gay led off the inning with a single to left field. Senior infielder Troy Black and junior infielder Scott Heath were both hit by pitches to load the base before senior infielder Alex Calbick drew a walk, bringing home Gay for the game’s first run. Two sacrifice flies and another walk drew in the remaining base runners to cap the first-inning scoring.

The Black Bears momentum continued throughout the second when they scored three more runs. Black reached base on an error and scored on a ground out by junior outfielder Brian Doran. In Bussey’s second at bat, he reached base on a walk, then advanced to second on a wild pitch by UMF senior starting pitcher Ben Pearson. Sophomore catcher Jonathan Salcedo was hit by a pitch in the next at bat, and Balzano bunted safely to load the bases. Gay hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Bussey for the second run of the inning. Black’s next at bat brought home Salcedo on a single to centerfield.

Farmington scored its only run in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore infielder Ben Keene reached base on a Black Bear error before sophomore outfielder Tom Grady, who tallied three hits in the contest, followed that up with a single to advance Keene. Sophomore infielder Grayson Beressi singled to center to bring home Keene for Farmington’s lone tally.

UMaine continued to pour it on in the bottom of the inning. Freshman outfielder Jake Osborne was brought in on the base paths after Doran singled. Osborne stole second base and scored when Bussey tallied his third hit of the game. He then reached home for the second time of the day on a Balzano single to deep left field.

The Black Bears’ final run came in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure the 10-1 victory. The run was scored by Balzano who reached home on an error from a groundout by Black.

The Black Bears used six different pitchers throughout the game. Senior Shaun Coughlin earned the win, striking out four batters in two innings to improve to 2-2 on the season. Junior Luke Morrill allowed Farmington’s only earned run, along with two hits in two innings. Two strike-outs in two scoreless innings was recorded by sophomore right-hander Logan Fullmer. Sophomore Jake Marks struck out two Beavers in one inning of action, while freshman Jeff Gelinas and sophomore Burk Fitzpatrick also contributed on the mound for the Black Bears.

Pearson picked up the loss for Farmington, giving up four runs in the outing. He was one of seven pitchers used by the Beavers throughout the contest.

Black Bears drop both games of doubleheader

UMaine dropped two America East conference contests to Hartford by scores of 6-4 and 2-1 in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon. The final game will be held Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. Junior starting pitcher Tommy Lawrence had a good outing in game one, allowing only five hits and four earned runs in nine innings with nine strikeouts.

The Black Bears started off the scoring in game one in the first inning. Black singled to centerfield in his first at bat and then stole third after a walk had moved him to second. A grounder hit to second base by Doran should have ended in a routine double play to end the inning, but an overthrow was made at first base, bringing Black home for the Black Bears’ first run.

The contest remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Lawrence got into some trouble on the mound. He walked the first three batters in the inning to load the bases. A fourth walk brought a Hartford base runner home to even the score at 1-1.

“I just lost my focus out there, and there were a couple of calls that didn’t go my way, which was frustrating,” Lawrence said.

A pop fly hit by Hartford’s senior second baseman Brian Estevez should have resulted in an easy out, but Black was unable to get under the ball, and with the wind, failed to make the play. Black stumbled to the ground during the play, and three Hartford runners made it home to take a 4-1 lead.

“Right now, everything is coming down to just one play. We need to make one more play out there than we are making. One play in every conference game is the difference between being 5-0 and 1-4 for us,” UMaine manager Steve Trimper said.

Despite the rough inning, Trimper had no intentions of taking Lawrence out of the game.

“He had four walks, and that hurt us, but he was throwing strikes all day,” Trimper said. “He’s a senior – he’s a bulldog. I have to wrestle him to get him off the mound. But he just gets better and better down the stretch so he stayed in.”

UMaine responded with three runs in the sixth inning. Heath opened things up with a single to center field. Two consecutive walks by Hartford junior pitcher Sean Newcomb loaded the bases for the Black Bears before a sac fly by Calbick brought in Heath. Sophomore catcher Jonathan Salcedo tallied two RBIs for the Black Bears on a single he hit deep into left field to knot the score at 4-4, one they would take into extra innings.

In the top of the 11th, Black Bears sophomore relief pitcher Charlie Butler walked Hartford’s first batter, sophomore designated hitter Joe Roberti. Roberti advanced to second on a wide throw by Salcedo on a fielder’s choice bunt by Estevez. Freshman infielder Dalton Ruch advanced both runners into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt before junior shortstop Trey Stover and sophomore outfielder Adam Touhey each recorded run-scoring fielder’s choice grounders to bring home Roberti and Estevez.

UMaine had no response in the bottom of the 11th inning and lost 6-4.

The second game of the afternoon was close and competitive as well. UMaine senior starting pitcher Shaun Coughlin pitched all seven innings in the contest, allowing five hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts.

Both runs by the Hawks were recorded in the first inning. Stover hit a single to rightfield to start off the inning for the Hawks before Coughlin walked Touhey to advance Stover into scoring position. Junior outfielder Ryan Lukach hit a single deep to right field, bringing home Stover to go up 1-0. A sac fly by senior DH James Alfonso brought in Touhey to increase the Hartford lead to 2-0.

UMaine’s lone run was tallied in the first as well. Balzano was walked to begin the inning and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Senior centerfielder Colin Gay grounded out to bring in Balzano, who tallied the Black Bears only run in the second contest.

Both defenses held serve the rest of the way, culminating in a 2-1 Hartford win.

“We just couldn’t get the ball into a hole all day,” Trimper said. “I don’t think our offense is stagnant, we’re just not getting the ball into the right spot. We had no quality hits today.”

Following up a game-tying goal in the closing seconds of regulation with the game-winning goal against your biggest rival just minutes later would be enough to inflate the head of any college athlete. But for sophomore forward Audra Richards, the success of the team comes first and foremost.

Richard’s uptick in production for the University of Maine women’s ice hockey team is a result of improved team chemistry and morale, and the rest of the Black Bears squad is responding. Last week they won back-to-back games for the first time since taking two from the University of New Hampshire in Alfond Arena in February of 2012, again sweeping border rival UNH by scores of 3-2 and 3-1 before falling in a one-game set to the University of Vermont this past Saturday.

“Team chemistry is very healthy,” Richards said. “We always have fun on and off the ice together and continue to compete against each other during practice which is creating a lot of success for everyone on the ice. The past few games have really shown what we can do as a team.”

The mantra of coaches Sara and Richard Reichenbach has been drilled into their players’ heads as well, and Richards believe it’s something that’s helped her team in the middle of rough season record-wise.

“‘Respect everyone, fear no one,’” Richards repeated of her coaches. “I believe that is how our team is starting to play, which will help us finish off our season and lead us into playoffs on the right note.”

In the game against UNH, UMaine took an early 1-0 lead and held it for most of the game. The Wildcats responded with two goals of their own to begin the third period.

Relinquishing the lead in the final period has happened several times to the Black Bears this season. With a younger, inexperienced roster, the Black Bears have struggled coming back in these situations. However, this culture has changed, and Richards’ stellar play, as well as the strong efforts by her teammates, exemplifies this change.

“The team has really come together as a whole since winter break. I believe we have built a new kind of confidence in our ability to win,” Richards said. “Once we got our first win under our belt, the team as a whole started gaining the confidence we needed, and need for the remainder of the season.”

Richards tallied another goal in the second game of the weekend against UNH, marking her third in the weekend series. Performing at a high level isn’t uncommon for her, leading the Black Bears in goals on the season with 12. She’s also tallied a pair of assists along the way.

Success didn’t come easy for Richards. Coming from the Minnesota Thoroughbreds junior hockey team, it took her a while to adjust to the speed of Division 1 play.

“The biggest thing for me last year was getting used to the speed of the game,” Richards said. “Hockey has always been fast, but at the Division 1 level everyone is just as fast as you or faster. Now that I am completely used to the speed I feel I am more of a threat on the ice and creating a lot more offense than I have in the past with the Black Bears.”

Richards has developed a love for the sport instilled in her by her father, someone she has always looked up to.

“My dad is a huge influence and inspiration to everything I do, on and off the ice,” she said. “He keeps me on my toes every day making sure I finish my career with no regrets and tons of success.”

Another inspiration for Richards over the years has been friend Stephanie Anderson, who plays for Bemidji State University in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Richards based her play on Anderson’s, and used her as a mentor to reach her own successes.

“She took me under her wing when we were both younger and I did everything she did on and off the ice because I wanted to play and be just like her,” Richards said. “Not only did I benefit from doing everything she did, but she was always on me to perform my very best — nothing less than that, because she knew what I wanted to accomplish with my hockey career. She continues to inspire me every day with her personal success in the WCHA.”

Richards takes this inspiration into the last leg of the season, and into the future, where she expects success to come for her and her teammates.

“The team will only get better,” she said. “We have a very young program with eight freshmen, eight sophomores, five juniors and four seniors. I believe this program will take huge steps in the upcoming years, especially after watching the progress of just one season.”

After sweeping their archrival in a two-game set last weekend, the University of Maine women’s ice hockey team fell back to Earth slightly against the University of Vermont.

The Black Bears fell by a score to 2-1 Saturday afternoon in Burlington thanks to a heavy possession-based attack by the Catamounts. UMaine faced shots all night, and was fortunate to keep the game close despite their lack of putting the puck on the net. The Black Bears’ record dips to 5-17-5 and 3-11-3 in Hockey East play with the loss, while Vermont improves to 13-13-4 and 9-7-1 in conference.

UMaine remains in the Hockey East basement with four games to play, just three points behind fifth-place Providence College. UVM has staked a claim to a top-four seed in the conference with a 7-point cushion over the Friars and a one-point deficit to Northeastern University.

The first period started off slowly. Each team had scoring opportunities, but Vermont got the bulk of them, battering UMaine in shots on net by a 13-4 margin. The Black Bears were the first to find twine despite Vermont’s great defensive efforts.

Sophomore wing Kelly McDonald found freshman forward Emilie Brigham in the offensive zone where she was able to knock the puck past Catamount senior netminder Roxanne Douville for her fourth goal of the season.

Vermont was able to respond in the second period to take the lead, with the tying goal coming via the man advantage.

Catamount junior forward Brittany Zuback sent the puck back to the point where sophomore defender Dayna Colang sent a slap shot past Black Bear sophomore goaltender Meghann Treacy to knot it at one goal apiece.

They would take the lead a little under nine minutes later.

While moving the puck offensively, freshman defender Rachael Ade passed to freshman forward Victoria Andreakos who sniped a shot by Treacy to take the lead at 2-1. Vermont outshot the Black Bears in the second period 14-4.

UMaine came out swinging in the third but was unable to find the back of the net.

Douville stopped all 11 shots in net for Vermont in the period, while Treacy stopped all 10 shots that came her way in the period. Vermont’s tough defense limited the Black Bear offense and they weren’t able to put another goal on the board. With no third period tally, Vermont went on to win by a score of 2-1.

Treacy stopped 35 pucks on the night while Douville saved 18. UMaine was outshot in the contest by a lopsided margin of 37-19.

The Black Bears return to action next weekend at home for Senior Weekend in a two-game series against No. 7 Boston College. Puck drops at 1 p.m. on Feb. 15 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 16.

The Catamounts travel to Durham, N.H. for two tilts against UNH the same days.

Defense wins championships; it’s really that simple.

If you don’t believe that, have a chat with the 2007 New England Patriots.

Statistically, the Broncos have to be the favorite going into Super Bowl Sunday, posting staggering offensive numbers like 457.3 yards of total offense per game and 340.2 passing yards per game during the regular season. They managed to score 37.9 points per game during that stretch.

However, if Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos expect success similar to what they had against New England last week in the AFC title game, they will receive a wakeup call on Feb. 2 against the stout Seattle Seahawk defense.

The Seahawks have all-stars at nearly every defensive position, including Richard Sherman at cornerback, who despite his narcissistic comments after defeating the San Francisco 49ers, really is the best at his position in the NFL. Sherman is just one member of a ball-hawking secondary that led the NFL in interceptions with 28 during the regular season, with Sherman producing a league-leading eight of them.

They only gave up 273 yards per game to opposing offenses this year and forced 39 takeaways, both league-highs. Saying that the Broncos will have their hands full is truly an understatement.

Understand that Manning is the best quarterback in the game. There is no doubt that his hands are all over the Broncos’ success this season, and his methodical technique of picking apart opposing defenses through the air may be the best the NFL has ever seen. He’s also blessed with undoubtedly the best set of receivers in the NFL, which includes Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas. Manning has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal, but will that be enough to defeat the Seahawks?

I think not.

Seattle’s defense is too good for Denver, despite the Broncos’ gaudy offensive numbers. They will be able to hurry Manning, disrupt his timing and cause turnovers. All it takes is one turnover for them to win. One miscue against Seattle can end your day.

The best part about the havoc they create defensively is how well it compliments their offense. By causing turnovers, they can run a balanced offense down the field, which fits right into their strengths on that side of the ball.

Because they are rarely behind, they don’t have to force young Russell Wilson to take on a huge load in the passing game, allowing them instead to spread the ball among their other playmakers like Marshawn Lynch, Golden Tate and Percy Harvin if he’s healthy.

It is hard to beat a team that plays good defense and can run the ball effectively, despite how pass-happy the NFL has become in recent years. If you can stop your opponent from scoring, create turnovers and run the ball, you can control the speed of the game.

The Seahawks’ defense relies on its offense’s ability to keep the opponent off the field with its ground and pound approach, just as their offense benefits from the Seattle defense’s ability to cause turnovers.

Manning will make his impressive throws and put a few scores on the board, but this should be a close game, coming down to one important play — a play that Seattle’s defense will make, much like it did against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game.

I predict a Seahawks win in one of the best Super Bowls of the last decade.

Last week, Lakers Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jim Buss told the media he was fed up with hearing rumors about the possibility that his organization will trade or release Kobe Bryant before he returns from the Achilles tendon injury he suffered at the end of last season.

“I want to put an end to any speculation that we would allow Kobe to become a free agent,” Buss said. “That’s not going to happen. Kobe is a top priority for us. He’s a Laker legend and always will be. I don’t think we’re done winning championships with him yet.”

Buss’ bold words beg the question: will Kobe Bryant win another championship with the Lakers?

Looking at what they’re working with, there’s hope.

Once Kobe returns, the Lakers starting five will likely be Steve Nash, Bryant, Pau Gasol and newly acquired players Nick Young and Chris Kaman. The bench has also gained depth in the offseason, with the acquisitions of wing players Wesley Johnson and Xavier Henry.

With fresher, younger legs in Young, Johnson and Henry, head coach Mike D’Antoni may be able to get his team into faster offensive sets, more similar to what he ran in New York with the Knicks.

Kaman and Gasol have worked well together in the preseason thus far, and there’s hope for the tandem in the paint this year. Gasol has always been one of the best passing big men in the league and always averages a double-double, and Kaman is a quality fundamental rebounder and low post threat. Both big men are aging, however, which may be a problem when facing younger, more athletic big men.

Jordan Hill and Steve Blake are two bench players returning for the Lakers. Blake is usually one of the higher-scoring players off the bench for the Lakers, and is able to go off from the three-point line if he gets into a rhythm. Hill is coming off an injury from last season, so it will be interesting to note how he plays and where he fits in LA’s scheme.

Ultimately, the Lakers’ chances of contention this year will come down to how Kobe plays after his return. Kobe is aging as well, and at 35, playing at the level he was playing at prior to tearing his Achilles could be impossible. He may lose lateral quickness and be hesitant to pivot or shoot on that ankle. This could create problems for Kobe early in the season, and he may not be able to return to his regular form.

Despite losing Dwight Howard to Houston in free agency, LA may actually be improved given the fact that they’re younger and more athletic. It’s hard to see them contending in a stacked Western Conference, however, especially with so much uncertainty surrounding their best player and his return to the hardwood.

They would need younger, all-star caliber players surrounding Kobe to have a real shot. I’m not counting the Lakers out given their history of player spending and the fact that they have the second-most championships in NBA history, but Buss may have jumped the gun with his assertion that LA can still contend for titles in the Bryant era.

With Week 8 in the books, here are some changes you can make to your fantasy roster for this week’s slate of games to maximize your point total.

Start ‘em

Buffalo wide receiver Stevie Johnson is past due for a big performance, and I believe he will have one this week against Kansas City. The Bills have been playing well with quarterback Thad Lewis at the helm, and I believe Johnson will be able to put up some big numbers against the Chiefs.

The Chiefs have been solid all season, but the Bills are hot, and I think the offense there believes in Lewis’ ability to give them the best chance of winning. Johnson is agile, and a real possession wideout across the middle of the field. He has the speed to pile up yards after the catch.

The Chiefs’ defense loves to get after the quarterback, and Lewis will likely target Johnson early and often as his safety valve. This should translate to a better fantasy performance from the wideout than in recent weeks.

Charles Clay deserves a start this week for the Miami Dolphins against the Cincinnati Bengals. Clay is a great option at tight end and has caught a touchdown pass two weeks in a row. He has developed as a big red zone target for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and even though Tannehill has been struggling the last few weeks after his hot start, he’s been finding ways to get the ball to Clay in the scoring areas.

T.Y. Hilton is another wide receiver to watch in Week 9. The Indianapolis Colts have been consistent this year, and have pulled off victories against good teams like Denver and Seattle.

Hilton is crucial to the Colts’ success, and quarterback Andrew Luck always seems to find him on the field. Hilton has enough speed to be a threat when out in open space, and also has the ability to go up and get balls over cornerbacks. Against a struggling Houston Texans squad, Hilton shouldn’t have much trouble racking up points.

Sit ‘em

Wideout Vincent Jackson is facing a stout and formidable defense in the Seattle Seahawks, and should be confined to the bench this week if you have other options at wide receiver. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been having all sorts of trouble since benching and releasing quarterback Josh Freeman, and I don’t see Tampa’s luck turning around this week. Jackson is a threat and one of the better receivers in the league, but not having a quarterback that can get him the ball really puts a damper on his fantasy output. Until Tampa Bay turns things around, Jackson likely won’t accumulate the points we’re used to seeing out of him.

If the New York Jets play the same defense they played against New England this week, Jimmy Graham may not be your best option at tight end this week. Graham is statistically the best tight end in the game, but the Jets are the best at giving great quarterbacks trouble, as seen against New England a few weeks ago.

The Jets are capable of controlling a game because of their defense, and the only way you can control the Saints is by controlling Drew Brees, which means limiting the amount of receptions Graham has. I believe the Jets are capable of doing this, so if you have another viable option at tight end, it just may be in your best interest.

The University of Maine women’s soccer team finishes the regular season as the 3-seed in America East with a record of 8-5-4 overall and 5-2-1 in conference following their victory against the University at Albany on Thursday and their loss to Stony Brook University on Sunday.

The Black Bears host Binghamton University in the America East quarterfinals Thursday, Oct. 31, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.

Achille nets game-winner over Albany

UMaine defeated conference foe Albany Thursday night in Albany, N.Y. by a score of 2-1. Both teams combined to score all three goals in the first nine minutes of action.

Albany falls to 1-14-1 on the year overall and 0-6-1 in America East play.

The Black Bears grabbed an early 1-0 lead just 2:01 into play when senior defensive back Maggie Malone gathered the ball after a deflection in the box and ripped a shot past Albany junior goalkeeper Jackie Ubert for her third goal of the season.

The Great Danes tied things up just six minutes later when sophomore forward Kari Quinn got a chance on a breakaway and netted a goal past UMaine sophomore netminder Lauren Swant. Freshman defensive back Alexa Schneider tallied the assist on Quinn’s goal.

UMaine responded less than 30 seconds later when sophomore forward Eve L’Abbe sent a cross to sophomore midfielder Charlene Achille who dribbled into the box uncontested. Without hesitation, Achille fired a shot that soared past Ubert for her fourth goal of the year.

In the second half of regulation, neither team tallied another goal despite several scoring opportunities.

UMaine outshot Albany 18-7 in the game. Swant made two saves in net for the Black Bears and improves to 8-4-3 in net this season. Ubert made two saves in goal for Albany.

Pratt’s game-winner in double overtime spoils UMaine senior day

It was only fitting that the last game of the regular season was a double overtime thriller, and that its outcome ultimately determined the winner of the America East Conference.

UMaine fell to Stony Brook 2-1 in double overtime Sunday afternoon on senior day. The heartbreaking loss for the Black Bears drops them from first in the conference standings to third. Stony Brook remains at second in the standings, while the University of Maryland-Baltimore County moves into first, owning the tiebreaker against Stony Brook by defeating them in a double overtime bout that took place on Oct. 17.

Stony Brook ends the regular season with a record of 11-5-1, 6-2-0 in conference.

The Seawolves netted the game-winner just under three minutes into the second overtime. Sophomore defender Priscilla Wiggins made a pass through the UMaine box that deflected off the body of a defender and into the air. There to recover the leftovers was freshman midfielder Elise Pratt, who headed the ball past the outreaching arms of Swant to lift the Seawolves to the 2-1 win.

UMaine outshot Stony Brook 28-9 on the afternoon. Redshirt junior netminder Ashley Castanio was terrific in net for Stony Brook, however, making 13 saves and improving to 11-5-1 on the year. Swant made one save in net for the Black Bears, and falls to 8-5-3 on the season.

The game nearly ended in the first overtime. UMaine senior midfielder Lisa Bijman had a great scoring opportunity when she rifled a shot from inside the box at Castanio. Castanio made a tremendous save on the play, laying out and deflecting the Bijman shot with her right leg, effectively killing any Black Bear momentum heading into the second overtime.

After the festivities of senior day had concluded, the action began when a Stony Brook direct kick struck the cross bar. Seawolves sophomore defender Stella Norman controlled the rebound and sent a shot past Swant for her third tally of the year to put Stony Brook up 1-0.

The Black Bears answered the call at the 55-minute mark when L’Abbe received a pass upfield and rocketed a shot from outside the box that nailed the goal post before ricocheting into the net for her fourth goal of the season.

Before action began on Sunday afternoon, UMaine honored its senior players Haley Lipinski, Bijman, Meaghan Bradica, Maggie Malone and Nikki Misener for their years of service as members of the women’s soccer team and the UMaine community.