As October draws near, the race for the final Major League Baseball playoff spots is heating up. Four teams will get the chance to make the playoffs as wild cards when the season ends. Each race is within four games for both the National and American Leagues, so the final week of the regular season will be crucial for the teams in contention.

The new wild card format, adopted by the MLB in the 2013 season, allows for two wild card teams from each league to play for one playoff spot. This one game playoff determines who will make the divisional playoff series. There are six teams currently in contention for the four remaining wild card spots. The races are close, and will be heavily dependent on the team’s performances in the final week of the regular season.

The American League

The wild card race in the AL is by far the closest, where three teams are within a game and a half of each other. The three teams, Kansas City, Oakland, and Seattle, have had their ups and downs throughout the season but will each be competing for a playoff position.

The Oakland Athletics, who once had the best record in baseball, were almost guaranteed to win their division after making some heavy duty moves at the trade deadline to strengthen their pitching staff. The addition of starters Jon Lester and Jeff Samardzija helped the A’s dominate their opponents from the mound. Their lineup, while not the best in the league, is still getting it done as power hitters like Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss continue to produce.

But towards the end of the summer, the A’s have struggled. They have given up their lead in the AL West to the LA Angels, who have since secured themselves a playoff spot. Dispute their struggles in September, the A’s are still clinging onto the second wild card spot.

On the other hand, the Kansas City Royals have finished the summer strongly, riding an eight-game winning streak to the top of the AL Central. Their run began in August, battling the Detroit Tigers for first place in the division. The Tigers prevailed, but Kansas City was able to hold onto the wild card, as they are a half game up on the A’s for the first wild card spot.

The Royals will have to lean on their pitching staff to help them through the final weeks. Veteran James Shields leads the team in innings pitched with 214.1 and has a record of 14-7. The offense has been effective lately, with right fielder Nori Aoki batting .565 in the last week.

The best storyline in the AL this year has been the Seattle Mariners. While the Mariners have not been a division leader at all this season in the AL West, they have surged since their slow start in April and May to put themselves within one game of the second wild card spot. A solid pitching rotation featuring Cy Young candidate, Felix Hernandez is backed by a solid lineup featuring Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager, the latter of whom leads the team with 23 homers on the season.

As for who will come out of the AL as the wild card team, it is a toss up from here. The Royals is in Detroit facing the division leading Tigers. Both Oakland and Seattle are playing mediocre teams in the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros respectively, so there could be some lead changes in the next few games. As for the wild card team from the AL, Oakland has the best shot. Their rotation is solid and backed with veteran and young talent, and they have the offense to match.

The National League

The NL is not as close as the AL race, but there were a few surprises. The Milwaukee Brewers, who lead in the NL Central until August, when the team lost 11 games in a 12 game stretch, and have fallen behind in the NL wild card race. A disappointing season for the Brewers, who were the first team in the majors to win 20 game this season, achieving that feat on April 28th.

The San Francisco Giants have consistently been one of the top teams in the NL, winning the world series twice in last five years. This season, the Giants have been battling the LA Dodgers for the lead in the NL West since May. San Francisco currently have a two-game advantage in the wild card race with Pittsburgh. The Giants are backed by a solid rotation with catcher Buster Posey leading the offense in every category except hits. San Francisco is not out of the division race, they are two and a half games behind the Dodgers.

The other wild card spot in the NL is held by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bucs have had a mediocre season until the summer, where they worked their way to second place in the NL Central. They have stayed there ever since, occupying the remaining NL wild card spot. The Pirates playoff hopes rest on the health and production of center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who leads the teams in all offensive categories except batting average. There is no standout pitcher for Pittsburgh, so the offense will have to carry the team to the playoffs.

Since the Pirates lack the pitching staff to carry them through the playoffs, the San Francisco Giants will most likely win the NL wild card. The Giants have the playoff experience, and their strong pitching will carry them past the Pirates in the one game wild card playoff.

Anything can happen in the final week of the season, and it will be interesting to see who hold on to win the AL wild card. The playoffs are coming, and the road to October is not short on storylines

The University of Maine women’s soccer team began their four game road trip with a tie and a loss last weekend. The Black Bears tied Central Connecticut State University 3-3 on Friday before dropping a 3-0 decision to the University of Rhode Island Sunday afternoon.

The Black Bears fall to 2-6-1 on the season. Maine plays its next game on Sept. 28 vs. America East opponent Binghamton.

Black Bears tie CCSU in strong outing

The Blue Devils and Black Bears traded blows in a game that would eventually end in a tie, 3-3. The Blue Devils, a talented soccer team, are now 4-2-3.

CCSU began the scoring in the 15th minute, when a cross from first-year forward Kelly Halligan crossed the ball to third-year midfielder Danica Foglio, who headed the ball past Maine second-year keeper Claudia Dube-Trempe.

UMaine answered in the 39th minute when fourth-year forward Jordan Pellerin beat CCSU first-year keeper Nikki Turley of the left side. For Pellerin, it was her first goal of the season, and it tied the game at 1-1. That would be the score at the half, with the Blue Devils outshooting the Black Bears 6-4.

CCSU scored the first goal of the second half after Maine conceded a free kick in the 64th minute. Halligan put the ball in the net to put the Blue Devils on top 2-1.

The Black Bears came back quickly with a goal of their own about a minute later, when third-year forward Charlene Achille headed in a Pellerin cross past the keeper. Achille also added another tally in the 69th minute, when she received a pass from Marie-Pier Gougeon and fired it past the keeper on the right. Achille’s goal total now rests at four, making her Maine’s leading scorer. The Black Bears sorely missed her for several games early in the season when she was out with an injury.

The Blue Devils were able to tie the game in the 82nd minute. After a series of passes inside the box, third-year forward Tori Sousa was able to beat Dube-Trempe on the to the right to send the game to overtime. The goal was Sousa’s second of the season and her third point, good enough for second on the team in both categories.

CCSU dominated the overtime periods, launching four shots on goal to Maine’s one. Dube-Trempe was up to the task, as only one shot was on target, and she made sure nothing hit the back of the net. After two overtimes, the game ended in a 3-3 draw.

It was the first draw for the season for Maine. It was the second for Central Connecticut, as their record falls to 3-3-2 on the season.

URI dominates UMaine

Maine was dominated in their own end by Rhode Island, who outshot UMaine 17-9, and took 11 corners to Maine’s four.

URI finally broke in the 34th minute, when first-year defenseman Simone Hansen chipped a corner kick into the net for the 1-0 advantage. The goal was Hansen’s second of the season.

The Rams were granted a penalty kick in the 37th minute after a trip inside the box, first-year forward Nicole Brennan scored easily to give URI a 2-0 lead. Brennan’s 17 goals are good enough for third on the team.

The Rams would make it 3-0 early in the second half when Brennan took a corner kick which was headed past Dube-Trempe by third-year midfielder Samantha Leyh. The Rams would control the rest of the game for a strong victory.

URI improves to 8-1-1 on the season after the win. The lone bright spot for Maine was the three-shot performance by Achille, who was unable to put one in the net for the Black Bears.

UMaine falls to 0-4-1 on the road and has only won one of their last four games. With several key players getting healthy, the Black Bears’ lineup should continue to improve.

The University of Maine women’s soccer team won its first game since Aug. 22 by beating the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bisons 1-0 on Friday. Maine improves to 2-5-0, while North Dakota falls to 4-2-0 on the season.

The Bisons came into the contest after suffering their first loss of the season to Iowa State University. The Black Bears were reeling after their fifth straight loss and were battling injuries to several key players.

The first half was a stalemate, with neither team able to break the deadlock. Maine was the closest to scoring in the 16th minute when two shots from inside the 18-yard box were blocked by Bison defenders. NDSU also came close to scoring when a shot from 20 yards out floated over the Maine crossbar in the 24th minute. Both UMaine and NDSU ended the first half with six shots on goal.

Both Coach Atherley and the players came out with a different mindset for the second half.

“We talked about our mentality in the locker room,” Atherley said. “And the idea is that we have to play with certain standards physically if we expect to have outcomes that we want.”

Maine upped their physicality, and it paid off. UMaine began the second half with a lot of energy, and the offensive chances began to develop. The Black Bears had several scoring chances early in the second half as crosses found their way into the 18-yard box.

“The players recognized we needed to pick it up physically all over the field,” Atherley said. “I think it gave us a lot of momentum.”

That momentum led to the best scoring chance that the Black Bears had all game, which came in the 69th minute. First-year forward Marie-Pier Gougeon received a cross, but was unable to put it past Bison keeper Sierra Bonham, who made the diving save on the goal line.

Maine broke through just minutes later when a cross from fourth-year forward Jordan Pellerin found Gougeon, who was crashing the net. Gougeon volleyed the ball into the net to give Maine the lead. For Gougeon, it was her first goal of the season and her first as a Black Bear.

“Jordan [Pellerin] had a very good ball for me and I just had to place it in the goal,” said Gougeon on her goal in the 78th minute.

Gougeon also commented on her team’s performance in the second half, saying, “We gave all that we had and put in a good effort today.”

Part of that effort came from second-year keeper Claudia Dube-Trempe, who had recently returned from injury. She recorded her second win, and second shutout of the season. She made three saves versus NDSU on Friday. She is now 2-1-0 on the year for UMaine.

As players return from injury, like Dube-Trempe, the Maine lineup will become more effective. Players like Pellerin can move back to their native positions, which proved to be the difference in Friday’s game.

“We have a couple of other players who are starting to come back, but we’re still very much compromised right now,” said Coach Atherley on the injuries, “but the good news is we have a week off before we play again.”

The Black Bears will be on the road for the team’s longest road trip of the season starting on Sept. 19 versus Central Connecticut State. Maine’s next home game will be on Oct. 5 as they host rival New Hampshire.

UMaine women’s soccer goalkeeper Elise Applegate went into the 2014 season without soccer on her schedule. The fifth-year senior from Lewiston-Auburn had left the team at the end of last semester due to financial strain, but an email from Head Coach Scott Atherley changed her plans for her final semester at UMaine.
“It was either protect my future or continue to do what I love and, unfortunately, I was incapable of doing both,” Applegate said.
She began the semester as a spectator, adapting to a routine without constant practices, workouts and games. She even took in a game from the sidelines for the first time. But then things took a turn, as injuries to the two starting goaltenders opened up a spot for Applegate.
“It freaked me out to be completely honest,” Applegate said. “I pretty much went from having my life be completely consumed by soccer to having my life be completely consumed by what I wanted to do with my future.”
While Applegate was excited to be granted the scholarship she had always hoped for, she was conflicted to give up the routine and schedule she had worked for 10 months to build.
“It was a huge kick in the gut… I’ve never been so angry over 10 grand in my life. It was a very odd feeling.”
Hard feelings aside, Applegate accepted the scholarship and returned to the game she loved. It was not long before she saw action on the field.
“I signed the paperwork Monday, our first practice was on Tuesday and I was the only goalkeeper. There wasn’t much preparation time it was really just sign the papers and start right where you left off despite how long I’d been inactive.”
In that practice, a shooting practice, Applegate faced 200-300 shots. She only had three practices before her first game against a dangerous Holy Cross team. Their offense averaged 3.25 goals per game and were undefeated going into the Sept. 5 matchup against Maine.
“It was really weird, because when I went in there was no pressure at all because nobody was expecting me to do anything spectacular.”
The lack of expectations worked, as Applegate had a brilliant game. She held Holy Cross to just one goal with the help of some solid defense and walked away with nine saves in a 1-0 loss.
“I played a whole lot better than I was expecting to,” Applegate said.
She needed to play well, as Maine has been dealing with multiple injuries, mostly to midfielders. Other players have had to replace the midfielders, and many of them were not midfielders by trade, leading to a lack of offense.
“We’ve always been a defensive-minded team, just innately. Our back line has always been strong and we’ve always had issues with getting the ball forward and taking shots,” Applegate said.
With the first conference games looming, the team has been keeping their eyes forward.
“We just have to focus on conference coming up,” she said. “These next couple of games will be crucial. You want to go into conference with something under your belt. There’s nothing we can do except work our butts off, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
And with the return of a few players, including goalkeeper Claudia Dube-Trempe, the Black Bears were able to muster a win at home, 1-0 versus North Dakota State. One win is far from turning around the season, but it is a step in the right direction.
“We’re struggling, but we’re going to persevere,” she said.
As for Applegate and the rest of the season, she says she is just holding together the leaky ship that is the UMaine women’s soccer team, and will be ready to step aside when the other goaltenders get healthy.
“If they call me and say you need to play, I will work as hard as I can and I’m going to play. For me, I’m just doing whatever they need, and I’m more than ok with that,” Applegate said about her current role on the team.
Applegate has very optimistic expectations for her team heading into conference, assuming everyone is healthy. But one thing is for sure, UMaine soccer plays with a lot of character.
“The points don’t show it; the scoreboard doesn’t show it; and sometimes even our performances don’t show it, but this team has more heart than any other team I’ve played with.”
Maine will head into the next few games with all the confidence in the world, looking to make the best of their situation and win a few games before they begin conference play.
“Even though we’re dealing with a completely bum hand, every day we go out and play like we have aces.”
UMaine will take the field again on Sept. 19 at Central Connecticut.

The University of Maine women’s soccer team dropped a pair of decisions this week, first on the road in a 1-0 decision at Holy Cross on Friday and then at home to Northeastern University 4-0. The Black Bears see their record slip to 1-5 on the young season. Next they will host North Dakota State University at home Sept. 12 at 4 pm.

Black Bears Drop Heartbreaker to Holy Cross

UMaine began the weekend series in Worcester, Massachusetts, taking on the undefeated Crusaders. Maine and Holy Cross played to a 0-0 draw at the end of the first half before the Crusaders broke through in the 78th minute.

Holy Cross senior forward Gina Righini began the play when she passed the ball between two Maine defenders. She found freshman forward Kara Shaw, who had snuck behind the Black Bear defense inside the 18 yard box. Shaw quickly fired the ball past the charging keeper, senior Elise Applegate, who was unable to make the save for Maine. That would prove to be the difference as Holy Cross went on to win 1-0.

Holy Cross improved to 4-0-0, and continue their perfect start, the best in almost 30 years.

The one bright spot for UMaine was the performance by their goalkeeper Elise Applegate. Applegate, a senior who saw action in only one match in the last three seasons, got the start. In her collegiate debut, she made nine saves and held the Holy Cross offense to only one goal, a season low for the Crusaders who have averaged 3.25 goals per match this season.

UMaine continues to struggle on offense, having scored only 2 goals over the course of five matches and 43 shots, a percentage of just .047. The two goals on the season have come of the foot of junior midfielder Charlene Achille.

Achille did not start in the match against Holy Cross, and the offense floundered. There is young talent in the forward position for Maine, and it will be up to the veteran forwards to nurse the offense back to health.

The Black Bears also could tighten up their defense, after allowing 66 shots on goal through the first five matches. Having only given up six goals on the season, some credit can be given to the defense and the goalkeeping. Sophomore goalkeeper Claudia Dube-Trempe has played very well for Maine. Dube-Trempe has a goals against average of just .067 over 270 minutes of play this season. She has played well in her two years at Maine, seeing playing time last season in an America East semi-finals draw against StonyBrook.

UMaine Injuries Catch up to Them

The Black Bears have been dealing with six injuries to their squad and their absence was never more evident than in their 4-0 loss to Northeastern on Sunday.

Northeastern came out strong with a goal from 6’ ten seconds into the game, scored by sophomore Taylor Caparo and assisted by fellow sophomore Kimberley Slade.

“It’s so important to come out strong, especially against a great team like Maine. It‘s so hard to play here,” admitted Huskies head coach Tracy Leone.

UMaine head coach Scott Atherley likewise noted the early goal as one of the driving forces of the game.

“Credit Northeastern. They’re one of the best teams in the region. They’re going to come out fast.”

The game settled down quickly after the Huskies’ first score. The rest of the first half remained largely quiet, with neither team able to take control until the Huskies scored their second goal just before the half. Senior Lahaina Zoller scored the goal off a rebound in the box. Unfortunately for the Black Bears, the Huskies’ two goals in the half were scored at two of the most damaging times to a team’s morale: right at the start of the game and right before halftime.

The Black Bears came out in the second half with energy despite being down 2-0. Junior Captain Noelle Leon-Palmer credited her team on their ability to remain focused and positive.

“We have a lot of experience,” said Leon-Palmer of her team. “We said ‘hey, we have forty-five minutes. They scored two goals in that time, so can we.’”

There was a noticeable improvement in play for much of the second half. The dagger, however, came at 64:12 when sophomore Mackenzie Dowd scored off a corner kick, assisted by freshman Carly Wilhelm.

“It was very important to stay focused and keep attacking,” said Leone. “2-0 is the most dangerous lead in all of soccer, especially against a great team like Maine.”

The Huskies scored their fourth and final goal fairly late in the game at 79:58 when sophomore Haley Sinclair scored off of a cross from 29’, assisted by fellow sophomore Nicole Wilkins.

Despite the difficult weekend, the Black Bears are still looking ahead to the rest of their season with optimism.

“The silver lining is that a lot of players who we didn’t expect to get playing time are getting a lot of experience,” said Coach Atherley.

“We’ll watch film and grow,” said Leon-Palmer. “We just have to get healthy.