By Jacob Posik

The University of Maine women’s soccer team moves to 3-2-2 on the season after getting shutout in both contests over the weekend. Sophomore midfielder Charlene Achille led the Black Bears with four shots on net, and sophomore goaltender Lauren Swant produced her third shutout of the season.

VCU stifles UMaine offense for 2-0 win

The Black Bears suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams in a tournament hosted by VCU in Richmond, Va Friday night. VCU improves their record to 3-4 on the year after handing UMaine its second consecutive loss.

The Rams accomplished something no other Black Bear opponent has been able to so far this season: get more than one goal past UMaine sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Swant.

The first goal came from senior forward Courtney Conrad in the 47th minute of action. Fellow senior forward Jessie Krasko sent a cross into the box from the right side where Conrad was waiting to put home her second goal of the season and give the Rams the 1-0 lead.

VCU’s insurance marker came just two minutes later off the foot of redshirt sophomore midfielder Jackie Ernest. Sophomore midfielder Sharon Wojcik found Ernest open inside the box after settling a cross from sophomore defender Abbey Ritter. Ernest slid it home for her first collegiate goal and a 2-0 VCU advantage.

The Black Bears’ two shots on goal in the game were both turned aside by redshirt sophomore netminder Emma Kruse. UMaine sophomore midfielder Charlene Achille forced Kruse to make a diving save around the 53rd minute to preserve her first shutout of the season. UMaine sophomore forward Eve L’Abbe produced the Black Bears’ second opportunity of the game.

Swant tallied one save on three shots in net for the Black Bears, who were outshot 15-3 on Friday.

UMaine settles for 0-0 draw against Richmond

The Black Bears battled to a scoreless draw with Richmond University in double overtime Sunday afternoon in the tournament at Virginia Commonwealth University. The Spiders move to 2-4-2 following the tie.

Richmond had several scoring opportunities in the first half of action when they outshot the Black Bears 5-2.

UMaine dictated play in the second half, however, outshooting the Spiders by a 7-2 margin. The Black Bear defense didn’t allow a shot on net in the first overtime while getting off three of their own. Both teams had a pair of chances in the second period of extra time. The Black Bears held the edge in shots overall, 16-9, including a 5-4 advantage in shots on net.

UMaine’s best chance came from Achille in the first half of regulation, but Richmond sophomore goalie Emily Kelly was able to stuff the attempt. The sophomore led the Black Bears in shots on the day with three.

Swant stopped four shots in net for UMaine to secure her third shutout of the season. Kelly mustered five stops for the Rams.

Swant has been great in net for the Black Bears so far this season, only giving up one multi-goal game. Seven games into the season, Swant is allowing only .71 goals per game.

UMaine takes to the road once again when they match up against Northeastern University in Boston Sept. 20 before facing off against the Big Green of Dartmouth College Sept. 22.

By Anthony Panciocco

The University of Maine field hockey team traveled to Burlington, Vt. for the Catamount Classic this past weekend. They took on No. 5 University of Virginia in the first game Saturday morning, followed by Ivy Leaguer Brown University Sunday afternoon. The Black Bears see their record move to 3-4 on the season following the weekend split.

The Black Bears dropped their first game of the weekend to Virginia 2-0 in the two teams’ first matchup since 1986. The Cavaliers have been a powerhouse recently and a formidable team to play. UVA remains a perfect 6-0 on the season with the victory.

The first goal came just 1:46 into the game when UVA junior midfielder Jess Orrett fired a shot in the circle that deflected off a UMaine stick and passed sophomore goaltender Natasha Ford. It was Orrett’s first point of the season and gave the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead early on.

The next hour of play was relatively quiet. At the 69:22 mark, UVA senior forward Elly Buckley took a penalty shot that forced a rebound and was recovered by fellow senior forward Hadley Bell, who forced Ford to make another save before freshman midfielder Lucy Hyams finally put it home for the 2-0 Cavalier advantage.

UVA outshot the Black Bears 17-10 and really put the pressure on in the second half, where they led 13-5 in shots. The Cavaliers also led in penalty corners with a count of 9-5.

Both goalies played well, with UVA junior netminder Jenny Johnstone saving four shots on goal to continue her hot start and improve to a perfect 6-0 on the season. She has an unbelievable 1.66 goals against average on the season.

Ford saved four of six shots in a solid performance for the Black Bears despite the loss.

UMaine rebounded big time in their second game of the weekend on Sunday, topping Brown University 6-0. Brown came in with a 1-1 record having only played twice before Sunday’s matchup with the Black Bears.

UMaine junior forward Holly Stewart got things going early on, firing an unassisted goal past Brown junior goaltender Shannon McSweeney to put the Black Bears on top just 3:45 into the game.

At the 12:27 mark, sophomore midfielder Marissa Shaw took a pass from sophomore forward Cassidy Svetek and deflected it home to give UMaine some breathing room and a 2-0 lead.

It was 21 minutes before another goal was scored, this time by junior midfielder Annabelle Hamilton on an unassisted effort. UMaine would tally their fourth goal shortly after on Stewart’s second score of the game. Freshman midfielder Sydney Veljacic sent a centering pass in front of the goal where Stewart was waiting to put the Black Bears up 4-0.

UMaine began the second half in similar fashion to the way they ended the first. Hamilton scored unassisted once again to give UMaine the five-goal lead. Hamilton’s 12th point of the season moves her into second place on the team in scoring behind Svetek.

UMaine’s final score came off the stick of Shaw, who wristed a shot off a defender in the 58th minute to cap UMaine’s victory at 6-0. Shaw’s second goal of the contest gives her ten points on the season, good for fourth on the team.

Their victory Sunday was their best of the season, led by relentless offense and a stifling defense. Offensively, UMaine’s 45 shot barrage was led by Veljacic with 10 and Hamilton with 7. Thirty-one of those shots were on goal, a good depiction of just how dominant the Black Bears were on Sunday.

UMaine took advantage of McSweeney on Sunday, who has struggled so far this year. The Brown netminder had allowed six goals in two games prior to Sunday. UMaine also led in penalty corners 7-1.

In a game that UMaine dominated with their offense, their defense was a brick wall on the other end of the field. They allowed just one shot on goal to help coax Ford to her easiest shutout of the season.

UMaine will have a full week off before they return to home to take on Central Michigan University Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.

By Anthony Panciocco

Six new plaques now hang in the University of Maine Hall of Fame.

Francois Bouchard, Jack Capuano, Gerard LaFlamme, Susan Herrick Lizotte, Carleton “Speed” Merritt and Chad White were inducted to the University of Maine Hall of Fame on Friday night in the Memorial Gym.

These six athletes set records, won championships, led their teams and blazed a trail of tradition for the athletes that fill their shoes today. As Athletic Director Steve Abbott said at the ceremony, “We don’t honor the past by living in it; we try to honor it by reflecting the ideals of those before us.”

The first inductee was two-time women’s swim captain Susan Herrick Lizotte. In 1995-96, she was the America East champion in the 200 butterfly as well as the 200 and 400 individual medleys, where she set a new meet record at 4:31:97. Susan became an assistant coach at UMaine in 2000 and was named the men’s and women’s swimming coach in 2010. She has great goals in mind for her teams both for this year and beyond.

“We want to build our program and stay competitive in our conference,” Lizotte said. “We are on our way to a great season.”

Former UMaine quarterback Carleton “Speed” Merritt was honored posthumously at Friday’s ceremony, but the stories told of him will live forever. Considered one of the “All-Time State Series Greatest Players”, he was UMaine’s first professional football player. In Rhode Island, Merritt won 10 high school championships as a three-sport coach. He received the Black Bear award from the Alumni Association and founded the Marion Farrington Merritt fund, which still provides money for student athletes to this day. He was represented by his son, who said that his favorite part about the University of Maine was “his friends and his sports. He had lots of friends and was a proud brother of Theta Chi.”

Perhaps the best-known inductee is Jack Capuano. Capuano was the captain of the men’s hockey team and was named an All-American during the 1987-88 season. He holds the UMaine record for goals by a defenseman with 32 and added 88 assists to give him 121 points in his storied career. After graduating, he spent three years in the National Hockey League and American Hockey League, splitting time between the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins. In 2010 he was named the head coach for the New York Islanders, a position he still holds today.

Chad White, captain of the 1993 baseball team, was the next athlete to have his name immortalized in UMaine’s Hall of Fame. He was a North Atlantic Player of the Year that year, was a Second Team All-American and was on the NAC All-Conference and All-Tourney teams. In 1991 he made the NCAA All-Regional team, and in 1992 he led the Black Bears in home runs and runs batted in. After his time at UMaine he was drafted by Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros, but says there were some parts about UMaine that he liked better than playing professionally.

“In the majors it was more of a business. In college, I loved my teammates, sitting in the dugouts, playing in front of our fans. I loved the camaraderie. It was a different atmosphere here.”

One of UMaine’s finest basketball players, Francois Bouchard, was also honored. In his first season with the Black Bears in 1990-91, he won NAC Rookie of the Year and a spot on the All-Rookie team. From there he never slowed down. He led the team in points his sophomore and junior years, led the team in rebounding all four years, and still ranks fifth on UMaine’s all-time scoring list with 1,541 career points. He played for 15 years professionally in France after graduating. Even after playing overseas, he still considers Maine his home.

“I went here because it’s home. I grew up in Maine, it’s where I need to be. I love to fish; I love to hunt; I love it here.”

The last plaque to hang belonged to star runner Gerrard LaFlamme. He was a state champion in the mile and two mile in 1973-74, the mile and two mile relay in 74-75, and was the 1976 Maine State Champion in cross country. He was a two-year cross country captain and a top-10 Yankee Conference runner. It was crystal clear when he started to speak how he accomplished what he did. He started to talk of his time at UMaine, when there came a spark in his eye and a smile on his face.

“I just loved to compete. Let me tell you, all I wanted to do was put myself on the line. I wanted to win every time I was out there. I hated to practice, but I loved to compete,” he said.

“It’s a privilege and an honor for this to happen. It’s overwhelming.”

The six newest members of UMaine’s Hall of Fame were also honored at halftime of the football game this past Saturday.

By Andrew Stefanilo

The University of Maine football team is 3-0 for the first time since 2002 following their 35-22 win against Bryant University on Saturday.

Senior quarterback Marcus Wasilewski led the Black Bears with four touchdown passes and a touchdown run. He added 67 rushing yards to go along with 263 through the air. The senior spread the ball around effectively on Saturday, with all four touchdown passes going to different receivers.

“I think that’s the loudest kickoff since I’ve been here so far,” Wasilewski said of the home crowd. “It was really good to see the support that we have.”

The Bulldogs outplayed UMaine for most of the first half with a solid rushing attack. Bryant used its three running backs to pound the ball on the ground and wear out the Black Bear defense.

“I think they, in a lot of ways, are the best team we’ve played so far,” UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove said.

Sophomore running back Paul Canevari lead Bryant with 18 rushes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Wasilewski put the Black Bears on the board first with a 3-yard quarterback draw play to cap off their opening drive after Bryant missed a field goal the previous possession.

The Bulldogs answered on their next drive with a solid balance of running and passing. Junior running back Ricardo McCray and Canevari provided some tough yards on the ground.

After UMaine forced two incompletions in a row, Bryant snuck a draw play to Canevari on third down for the 7-yard touchdown to tie it up at seven.

After stopping UMaine on the ensuing drive, Bryant scored again on a 42-yard run by Canevari on just his second touch of the afternoon. A costly Black Bear penalty gave Bryant 15 yards to help set up the score.

 After both teams forced each other to punt, UMaine started another drive from their own 14 yard line. UMaine went three and out after a run for no gain, a sack and a screen pass. This forced them to punt again from deep inside their own territory.

Bryant continued their trend of blocking punts from the week before, this time for a safety that put them up 16-7.

“I think it’s five blocked kicks but I’m not a big stats guy,” Bryant head coach Marty Fine said. “There’s only one statistic that matters and we have a lot of work to do.”

The Bulldogs had an opportunity to open up the game when sophomore wide receiver Jose Depadua beat the UMaine secondary deep but dropped the pass from senior quarterback Mike Westerhaus.

After some back-and-forth play and a turnover-on-downs by Bryant, UMaine got back on the board when Wasilewski hit junior wide receiver Damarr Aultman for a 51-yard touchdown pass with 3:11 remaining in the first half.

On Bryant’s next drive, Westerhaus was hit as he threw back across the field and UMaine senior linebacker Troy Eastman intercepted the ball, setting the Black Bears up with excellent field position on the Bulldog 28 yard line.

 “They did a roll out away and the whole week our defensive coordinator was just telling me to be aware of anything coming backside,” Eastman said. “So I just stayed home and the pressure made him throw the pass and he didn’t see me.”

On a 3rd and 8, Wasilewski hit senior wide receiver Derrick Johnson for a 16-yard touchdown pass to put UMaine up 21-16 right before the half.

UMaine got the ball to start the second half and immediately began establishing the run. Senior running back Ricky Stevens had two rushes for first downs on the first drive before Bryant forced another punt.

After stopping Bryant’s next drive, Wasilewski scrambled for a long run into red zone territory. On the next play, he hit senior tight end Justin Perillo on a fade route for the touchdown to put UMaine up 28-16.

The Bulldogs’ next drive resulted in a missed field goal from 47 yards out. When UMaine took over, Stevens ran the ball for 20 yards to start the drive off. Sophomore running back Nigel Jones also took a carry for over 20 yards later in the drive. On third and goal, Wasilewski hit freshman wide receiver Jordan Dunn with no time remaining in the third quarter for the 9-yard touchdown pass.

“I think their players are just a little bit bigger, just a little bit stronger and a little bit faster,” Fine said.

With under two minutes remaining, Westerhaus threw a 58-yard pass to senior wide receiver Jordan Harris for the touchdown. They failed on the ensuing two-point conversion, however, allowing UMaine to run out the clock and hold on for the 35-22 victory.

“It doesn’t feel a lot like last week that’s for sure, but it’s a win. Each and every week that’s what we’re in the business for,” Cosgrove said.

The Black Bears travel to Illinois to play Big Ten foe Northwestern University. UMaine’s second Football Bowl Subdivision matchup this season kicks off Sept. 21 at 3:30 p.m.

University of Maine Athletic Director Steve Abbott announced on Tuesday his plans to end his tenure at UMaine after three years. Abbott plans to rejoin United States Sen. Susan Collins later this fall as her Chief of Staff, a position he held previously from 1997-2009.

“Leaving is a very hard decision, and it’s something I do with mixed emotions,” Abbott said. “I’m very excited to go work for Sen. Collins, but I’m sad to leave, too.”

Abbott signed a 6-month contract extension in June that officially ends in December. At the time of the extension, Abbott and UMaine Pres. Paul Ferguson had agreed that the timing was not conducive for conducting a search for a new athletic director given the ongoing renovation of the Memorial Gym and Field House, the negotiations with Global Spectrum to secure the new Cross Insurance Center in Bangor as the men’s and women’s basketball teams’ home court, and the pending apparel contract with New Balance.

Abbott, 50, said Sen. Collins’ senior position in the Senate and his dedication to public service were the main factors in his decision. No formal date has been set for his departure, only that it will occur sometime this fall.

The Orono native said he has no plans to return to a similar position at a university in the future, but hasn’t ruled it out completely. Abbott described being athletic director as a “varied job,” but one that will be very attractive to potential candidates despite some of the financial challenges at UMaine.

“The job is attractive for a number of reasons. […] It’s a great university, and we have terrific people here,” Abbott said. “We’ve got an institution with a great reputation, a very engaged faculty. It’s very much a student-focused institution. We’re the only Division-I program in the state so in terms of the attention – the media attention that we get is unbelievable compared to most of our peers.

“One of the biggest challenges we have is with our financial situation,” Abbott continued. “With state institutions all across the country, there is increasing pressure on budgets. So that’s hard for those of us who work in athletics to try and live within our means and [try] to make sure that we’re making expenditures that are consistent with the priorities of the university.”

Abbott listed hiring and firing coaches, approving schedules, approving spending priorities, fundraising and public relations strategies as the main responsibilities of an athletic director. He fired former All-American and women’s basketball coach Cindy Blodgett one day into his tenure in 2011 after she went 24-94 in four seasons at the helm, and 12-year men’s ice hockey coach Tim Whitehead in April after the Black Bears’ consistent decline the last few seasons.

During Abbott’s tenure, UMaine completed a $5.5 million renovation of Alfond Arena, added the $500,000 Paul J. Mitchell Batting Pavilion, began the $15 million renovation to the Memorial Gym and Field House — including a $5 million naming gift from New Balance for the renovation, UMaine’s largest corporate gift in history — and announced this week that the $65 million Cross Insurance Center will host the majority of home games for both basketball teams beginning this season.

In a statement released by the university on Tuesday, Pres. Ferguson said he “look[s] forward to continuing our working relationship in [Abbott’s] new role with Sen. Collins.”

When asked about what that relationship might entail, Abbott said, “Sen. Collins is a great advocate for higher education and she’s been a great advocate for this campus. When I worked for Sen. Collins before, I had the opportunity to work with a number of great faculty people and administrators here on campus who have dealings with the federal government. I also want to support the university in that role as well.

“I really, firmly believe that the future of this institution is critically important to the future of the state of Maine,” he continued. “In my new job, I want to continue to support this campus and do all we can because I really believe it’s important to this state.”

Pres. Ferguson echoed those statements via email, saying he looks forward to maintaining the relationship that “normally exists” to “advance the mission of the University of Maine.”

“Pres. Ferguson has been a great partner for me and for everyone in the Athletics Department and I’ve truly enjoyed working with him,” Abbott said.

“He’s been very supportive of me personally. He’s been very supportive of what we’ve tried to do here in the Athletics Department. We think that athletics tells a great story for the University of Maine and it’s a chance for us to really put a good face on for the university  — to let everyone know what a terrific place this is and he’s been helping us do that every step of the way.”

Abbott said there are “many parallels” between being a Chief of Staff and an athletic director, listing things like managing staff, setting the priorities and the vision for the operation and public relations strategy as similarities.

In addition to being the senior Maine Senator’s Chief of Staff for 12 years, Abbott also managed her campaign during her re-elections in 2002 and 2008. Collins holds six offices in Maine and one in Washington, D.C. She is up for possible re-election this coming year.

Abbott, who lives in Portland with his family, said he will be based primarily out of Collins’ office there but plans to spend “quite a bit” of time in D.C., especially when the Senate is in session.

“I am delighted that Steve Abbott will be returning to my office as Chief of Staff this fall,” Collins said in a statement. “Steve’s commitment to public service and his knowledge of Maine are extraordinary, and I am very pleased that he once again will be putting his exceptional talents toward the goal of helping me better serve the people of Maine.”

A national search for Abbott’s replacement has already begun. Abbott said he will work with Ferguson during the transition, including finalizing the currently vacant UMaine apparel contract within the coming weeks. Pres. Ferguson said there are no current plans to hire an interim athletic director, and someone will only be brought on in that capacity if the “position [becomes] vacant earlier than expected.”

Abbott graduated from Orono High School in 1981 before moving on to Harvard College and eventually the University of Massachusetts. He earned a degree from the University of Maine School of Law in 1991.

“It’s the people that are in this community,” Abbott said when asked what he will remember most about his time at UMaine. “I love the people on campus: the student-athletes, the students in general, the faculty, the coaches, the staff and the people around town. That’s why I’ve loved this place my whole life, it’s why I wanted to come back and it’s definitely where my fondest memories are.”

Former University of Maine football player Matt Mulligan was a New England Patriot for 48 hours.

The tight end was cut by the Patriots on Thursday after being signed to New England’s 53-man roster for an undisclosed amount on Tuesday following a workout the previous day. Mulligan was also cut by the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 31 after failing to do enough to earn a spot on their roster this preseason.

New England marked Mulligan’s third team in the last 18 months. The 28-year old Enfield native was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008 before moving on to play three seasons for the New York Jets from 2009-11. He was released along with offensive lineman Braxston Cave, a rookie out of the University of Notre Dame, leaving the Patriots with two open roster spots heading into their Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday.

Known more as a blocking tight end than a pass-catcher, Mulligan pulled in eight balls for 84 yards and a TD in 16 games for the St. Louis Rams last season.

Mulligan — who is listed at 6’4”, 275 pounds — attended Penobscot Valley High School in Howland, which does not feature a football program. His football career began at Husson University, where he played for one season before transferring to UMaine. Mulligan caught 13 passes for 157 yards and two scores for the Black Bears during his senior season in 2007.

His departure leaves New England with a tight end corps that includes injured two-time Pro-Bowler Rob Gronkowski, who is still recovering from offseason surgery on his back and forearm, Michael Hoomanawanui and Zach Sudfeld.

Three former UMaine Black Bears remain in the NFL following Mulligan’s release: Kansas City defensive tackle Mike DeVito, a Hampden native, Green Bay safety Jerron McMillian and Detroit special-teamer Montell Owens.

Eight new players will join the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team this upcoming season, according to a statement released by the team on Tuesday.

Six forwards and two defensemen have committed to play for the Black Bears during the 2013-14 season, a group that has newly-hired head coach Dennis “Red” Gendron feeling optimistic about the state of the men’s hockey program.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the newest class of Maine Black Bears into our hockey family,” Gendron said in the release. “We feel that each will have an opportunity to contribute to the success of our program immediately and that each of these young men can develop themselves into top level players in Hockey East.”

This newest crop of commitments features size and skill both up front and along the blue line.

Blaine Byron, a at 6-foot, 165 pound forward, is a proven playmaker. The Ontario native was selected 179th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft after tallying 12 goals and 40 assists last season as he split time between the Smith Falls and Kemptville 73’s of the Central Canadian Hockey League.

Zach Glienke is a solid two-way forward with great size at 6’3” and 195 pounds. Glienke was named a Mr. Hockey finalist in Minnesota last season after racking up 32 goals — including five game-winners — and 32 assists in 28 games for Eagan High School.

Forward Josh Henke anchored the New Jersey Hitmen during their run to the Eastern Junior Hockey League championship last season after recording nine points in eight playoff games. The Michigan native put up 70 points in 51 regular season games, including 10 power play goals. That production on the man-advantage should help out what was a dismal UMaine power play last season.

Brady Campbell was awarded the Ontario Hockey Association’s Top Prospect Award last season after notching 40 goals and 29 assists for the Elmira Sugar Kings of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League last season, and could prove to be a serious goal-scoring threat for the Black Bears in 2013-14.

Defenseman Daniel Renouf and forward Cam Brown both logged minutes for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League in 2012.

Renouf, who stands at 6’2” and weighs 205 pounds, will be looked at to provide offense from the back end after tallying 18 points and being named the USHL Defensemen of the Week three times last season. Brown, a Massachusetts native, had 51 points for the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs of the EJHL in 2011-12 before netting 16 goals and 20 assists for the Phantoms and the Sioux City Musketeers this past season.

Forward Brian Morgan skated for both the Indian Ice and Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL last season. The New Hampshire native managed 20 goals and 11 assists in 59 games during the 2012-13 campaign.

Defensemen Eric Schurhamer out of Minnesota also logged ice time for two USHL franchises in 2012, producing one goal to go along with eight assists in 37 games for the Waterloo Black Hawks and Lincoln Stars.

This recruiting class will hope to fill the void left by UMaine’s seven departed seniors: Defensemen Mike Cornell, Mark Nemec and Nick Pryor; and forwards Kyle Beattie, Adam Shemansky, Joey Diamond and Klas Leidermark.

The Black Bears open their season with an exhibition matchup against Dalhousie University at the Field House on Sunday, Oct. 6.

According to sources within the hockey community, former University of Maine assistant men’s hockey coach and current Yale University assistant Dennis “Red” Gendron has been offered the Black Bears’ vacant men’s hockey head coaching position. A formal announcement is scheduled for Tuesday.

Gendron was an assistant coach under the late Shawn Walsh for three seasons at UMaine, including the NCAA championship-winning season of 1992-93 that saw the Black Bears finish with a 41-1-2 record.

The 55-year-old New Hampshire native was a part of the Yale coaching staff that led the Bulldogs to their first ever NCAA championship this past season. He spent 11 seasons as an assistant with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils as well as a six year stint on the University of Massachusetts coaching staff before joining Yale two seasons ago.

Gendron, who has a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from UMaine, will also bring head coaching and U.S. National Team experience to the Black Bears hockey program next season. He was a part of the Devils’ Stanley Cup-winning squads in 1995, 2000 and 2003 and was a head coach and scout for their AHL affiliate, the Albany River Rats, during his tenure with the organization. Gendron was an assistant coach on the U.S. Junior National team during three World Championship tournaments as well as a number of USA Select-16 and 17 teams.

Gendron will take the place of former head coach Tim Whitehead, who was fired in April with one year remaining on his contract after the Black Bears finished with an 11-19-8 record and were ousted in the first round of the Hockey East tournament this past season. Whitehead had spent the last 12 seasons behind the UMaine bench but had the final year of his contract bought out after failing to reach the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in the last six seasons.

Gendron was chosen from among four finalists for the position, including recently-ousted Ohio State University head coach Mark Osiecki, former UMaine goaltender and current University of New Hampshire assistant Jim Tortorella and UMaine interim head coach Bob Corkum. It is unknown whether Corkum and associate head coach Dan Kerluke will remain on Gendron’s staff when the move is made official in the coming days.

On a blustery Saturday afternoon at UMaine’s Mike Kessock Field, the University of Maine softball team earned a 2-0 win over conference rival Stony Brook University behind senior pitcher Beth Spoehr’s complete shutout game.  UMaine went on to loose both games of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon to drop two out of three in the series.

The Black Bears — who were just 2-7-1 in their last 10 games against the Seawolves before Saturday’s victory — drop to 7-34 on the season and 3-9 against America East competition.

Stony Brook’s record improves to 25-19 overall, 7-5 in conference, after mustering only four total base runners against Spoehr on Saturday.

Spoehr earns her fourth win of the season after allowing just three hits and a walk to go along with two strikeouts in seven innings. Stony Brook junior starter Christine Lucido, who entered Saturday afternoon with a league-leading 1.78 ERA, moves to 10-2 on the year after surrendering two earned runs on five hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings of work in the loss.

UMaine head coach Lynn Coutts said she was happy with her team’s play, both at the plate and on the field on Saturday. This is a good sign for a Black Bears squad that currently sits in sixth place in the seven-team America East.

“All our pitches were working, we kept them off balance, [and] the defense played very well,” she said. “Offensively, we got some runners on, finally moved them and scored some runners. It’s what we’ve been trying to do all year and to get a win off Stony Brook is pretty good.”

The Seawolves are just one of the teams UMaine is looking up at in the standings entering the weekend. Coutts said performing well against them in this three-game series is important, in terms of building momentum, as they move through the conference schedule.

“We’re pretty much chasing everybody right now,” Coutts said. “When you look at us, we do not look like a team that’s won seven games. So it’s been a little frustrating on that part, but the kids never give up and as you see they’re resilient and they keep going, and they earned this one [today].”

The game remained scoreless in the early stages with Lucido and Spoehr allowing just one hit each through two innings.

UMaine broke the scoring drought in the bottom of the third on a single through the right side by junior third baseman Jean Stevens. Sophomore catcher EmJ Fogel reached first base on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second with a sacrifice bunt by sophomore second baseman Kristen Koslosky, then advanced to third on a wild pitch by Lucido. Stevens’ 31st RBI of the season brought Fogel home to give the Black Bears the 1-0 advantage heading into the fourth inning.

UMaine would stretch the lead to two in the bottom of the fourth, after Spoehr set the Seawolves down in order in the top half.

Junior left fielder Hannah Hill lined a double to deep left field to begin the inning before moving to third on a groundout to second by sophomore right fielder Jessica Burk. Freshman shortstop Makaila Kowalsky worked a five-pitch walk to set the table for sophomore designated hitter Katlin Norton, but only Hill would score on Norton’s groundout to second to make it 2-0.

To end the fourth inning, Freshman pitcher Jane Sallen managed to get the third out to keep Stony Brook within striking distance after replacing Lucido following Hill’s RBI groundout. A lone walk in the bottom of the sixth would be Sallen’s lone blemish on the day as she held the Black Bears hitless the rest of the way.

The Seawolves’ best chance to ruin Spoehr’s shutout bid came in the top of the fifth inning after sophomore right fielder Bria Green led off with a double to left-center field. She reached third on a sacrifice bunt by junior left fielder Jessica Zeilman but would get no farther after Spoehr forced two consecutive pop outs to finish the inning unscathed. Green’s 2-3 effort was the lone bright spot for what was a mostly silent effort by the Stony Brook offense.

“She just hit her spots,” Coutts said when asked about Spoehr’s performance in the circle on Saturday. “If she can hit those spots — any time pitchers can hit their spots and have that kind of control that she did — you’re going to be successful, so she did a great job.”

Spoehr would give up a slap single through the middle by junior third baseman Olivia Mintun in the sixth inning and a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh to junior first baseman Nicole Hagerty, but neither resulted in scoring threats. Koslosky, Kowalsky and senior first baseman Hilary Kane executed a 4-6-3 double play for the final outs of the game after Spoehr induced another grounder to second base.

“I was just relaxed,” Spoehr said of her performance on Saturday. “I was excited to play at home. It was a beautiful day out, and I just was really focused on keeping the ball off the plate and right on the corners. My defense played really well.”

Big 5th Inning Leads Seawolves to 4-2 Win

UMaine junior third baseman Jean Stevens’ 12th home run of the year was not enough, as Stony Brook took game one of the doubleheader, 4-2.

The Seawolves jumped out to an early lead after a leadoff single by junior shortstop Jessica Combs in the top of the first inning. A bloop single into shallow right field by junior first baseman Nicole Hagerty allowed Combs to score from first to make the score 1-0. The Black Bears mustered two hits in the bottom half but could not push any runs across.

The score remained that way until the top of the fifth. Neither offensive player could get much generated against Cukrov and UMaine junior starting pitcher Hannah Hill through the next three innings.

Stony Brook junior catcher Nicole Sheiferstein began the fifth inning with an infield single before advancing to second on a passed ball. Freshman designated player Alexandra Pisciotta brought her home with an RBI-double a batter later and would move to third on an infield single by Combs. Junior third baseman Olivia Mintun would load the bases after reaching on a bunt before Giosia ripped a two-run double to right field to score Pisciotta and Combs to extend Stony Brook’s lead to four.

Bogdanovich replaced Hill after Giosia’s double made it 4-0. Hill would be hit with the loss after allowing three earned runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings of work for the Black Bears.

The score would remain 4-0 until the bottom of the sixth. Both Cukrov and Bogdanovich breezed through the next two half-innings.

Stevens’ two-run blast to left field in the bottom of the sixth broke up Cukrov’s shutout bid after sophomore center fielder Stephanie Wood walked to begin the frame. Stevens went 2-3 in game one to go along with two RBI and a run scored.

Cukrov would shut the door the rest of the way to earn the 4-2 win for the Seawolves. She allowed two earned runs on four hits to go along with two walks and seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings in game one. Bogdanovich would earn a no decision after allowing just one hit in 3.0 innings of relief for the Black Bears.

Pisciotta and Combs combined to go 4-7 with three runs scored for the Seawolves in game one.

Seawolves Take Series Rubber Match 3-2 in Extras

Green went 4-6 with two RBI and freshman pitcher Jane Sallen threw 11.2 scoreless innings in relief as Stony Brook outlasts the Black Bears in 15 innings by a score of 3-2.

UMaine’s offense struck for three hits in the bottom of the first to kick things off in game two, but she could only push one across to take the early 1-0 lead. The runs came after sophomore catcher EmJ Fogel lead off with a double down the first baseline to begin the frame. She was pushed to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore second baseman Kristen Koslosky before a single by senior first baseman Hilary Kane brought her home for the first run of the game.

UMaine senior starting pitcher Beth Spoehr was handed the ball again in game two on Sunday following her 2-0 shutout win the day before. Spoehr would allow two earned runs on six hits, one walk and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings to earn a no decision for the Black Bears on Sunday.

Cukrov would get the start once again in game two for Stony Brook. She would be replaced by Sallen in the fourth inning after UMaine freshman shortstop Makaila Kowalsky and sophomore designated player Katlin Norton reached on a walk and a single to left, respectively, with one gone in the inning. Cukrov would earn a no decision after allowing one earned run on five hits and striking out one in 3.1 innings in the circle.

Stony Brook would tie the game at one with two outs in the top of the fourth inning after a double down the third baseline by Hagerty kept the inning alive. Green would bring Hagerty home on an infield hit one batter later, Spoehr’s first run allowed in 10.2 innings pitched.

UMaine would retake the lead after two Stony Brook errors in the top of the fifth inning. Junior pitcher Kylie Sparks pinched a run for Stevens after she reached on a fielder’s choice. A grounder back to Sallen by sophomore first baseman Nikki Byron, who replaced Kane in the field in the fourth, moved Sparks to second. A throwing error by Combs on a ground ball in the hole by UMaine sophomore right fielder Jessica Burk allowed Sparks to score to make it 2-1 in favor of the Black Bears.

Spoehr was replaced by Bogdanovich with one out in the top of the sixth after Giosia led off with a double to left field. An RBI double by Green two batters later tied the game at two. Bogdanovich would get the Black Bears out of the inning still tied after Green was doubled up at second on a pop out to short by sophomore left fielder Jessica Zeilman.

Bogdanovich was eventually hit with the loss, despite allowing just one earned run on eight hits and a walk in 9.2 innings of work in game two.

Sallen and Bogdanovich kept both offenses quiet until the top of the 15th.

Giosia began the inning with a single to left-center field before being moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hagerty. She would score on another RBI double by Green to deep left to make it 3-2. Sallen would hold UMaine in the bottom half to secure the victory for the Seawolves.

Sallen earned the win, after not allowing an earned run on three hits and striking out seven in 11.2 innings on Sunday. The freshman pitched 14 total scoreless innings in the series against the Black Bears.

Kane finishes 2-2 with an RBI in game two for UMaine. Giosia went 4-7 with a double and two runs scored while Green finishes 4-6 with two doubles and three RBIs in game two to lead the Seawolves.

Stony Brook takes on conference rival Binghamton University in a three-game set starting April 27. UMaine begins their own three-game series against an America East foe, when they take on Boston University the same day.

University of Maine junior distance runner Alex Moser said his focus this season has been on quality rather than quantity — a formula that seems to work well for him.

Moser was forced to switch up his training regimen when he entered the outdoor track and field season because of a bout with tendinitis, but that has not stopped the junior from performing at a high level this year: This season the York native has wins in the  mile run, the 1,000-meter run, the distance medley relay and the 1,500-meter run.

Moser has been successful in virtually every event he has competed in this year, but he says the mile run stands above the rest.

“The mile is long enough to be tactical but short enough to keep you on your toes, mentally and literally,” Moser said. “You have to be so alert and so in touch with your surroundings to make sure you make the right move when it’s time. I have also had the greatest success with the mile, so it is definitely my favorite event.”

Moser — who also competes in the 800-meter run and the 5- and 8–km races during cross country — was the first ever two-time state champion in cross country for York High School. He holds the 1-mile and 2-mile school records in both indoor and outdoor track at York High School, and a top-3 record in the 1-mile at UMaine.

“Holding a record is not as important to me — breaking them is,” Moser said. “I usually set my long-term goal time in an event based on the record board.”

Moser performed well enough to compete in the America East and Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America Championships earlier this season. He placed second and fourth in the mile and 1,000-meter run, respectively, to help the Black Bears finish fourth in the America East Championships, Feb. 11 and 12. His top three school time in the mile helped him finish fourth at the IC4A Championship March 1-3.

“I couldn’t have been happier with our team’s performance [at America East],” Moser said. “We placed much higher than we expected and much higher than we have in previous seasons.

“Competing at the IC4A Championship was, and has been, one of the most intimidating meets for me,” he continued. “The prior years I never made it to finals. Very tactical and stressful races were run, and I was not yet ready for this level of competition. This year I went in with a cool head knowing I could outrun anyone in my prelim. Cruising through in a [time of] 4:07 to make finals was a great feeling.”

Moser is a third-year mechanical engineering student at UMaine with a minor in mathematics. He says he hopes to land a job somewhere warmer when he graduates in two years, but he hasn’t ruled out running competitively at higher levels if he can continue to improve and stay healthy.

Although track is a team sport, the success of the whole relies on the individual achievements of performers in their respective events. Moser said that, even though that puts a lot of pressure on the team’s top performers, the overall success of the team this season has made it much easier on the top guns — himself, junior thrower Justin Gagne, junior sprinter James Reed and senior distance runner Corey Conner — to go out and compete without having to worry about how the rest of the squad is doing.

“I no longer get frustrated because I know that each sprinter, jumper, thrower or distance runner in their event is trying just as hard as I am and fighting for that same victory,” Moser said. “When we win events, we are not done. We know we have to go cheer on our team so that they can do their best.

“[This year’s] team has been exceeding expectations,” he added. “I don’t know the exact numbers, but many of our athletes have all had personal bests this season. Our coaches have been fine-tuning our workouts so that we can achieve more. I cannot wait to see what the end of the season brings with the promising races, throws, jumps and sprints that our team has been putting up.”

The Black Bears took first place over the weekend at the College of the Holy Cross over the weekend. Moser entered the weekend as the top seed in America East in the 1,500-meter run with a spot in the NCAA Championships in sight.

“I would love to go to nationals this spring,” he said. “I need to run a [time of] 3:43 or faster [in the] 1,500 to make it to nationals, so that’s my end season goal at this point.”

Moser and the Black Bears will enter the season’s homestretch at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., April 25 to 27.