Along with the ebbs and flows of a college athletic season, there are performances and accomplishments that stand out among others. In honor of The Free Press’ last issue of the academic year, the Sports staff has compiled the top ten USM sports performances of the 2010-2011 year. Sit back and enjoy.
1. Indoor track & field’s LEC dominance
Another year, another piece of hardware. The USM indoor track and field teams each won the Little East Conference/New England Alliance Championships, continuing a trend of winning that has lasted for more than a decade. The women’s team won its 11th straight LEC/NE Alliance title, and the men’s team won its third straight and eighth in the last 11 seasons. Can you say dynasty?
2. Women’s tennis’ night and day improvement
In the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the USM women’s tennis team went winless, going 0-12 and 0-11 with an 0-7 record in the Little East both years. But with help from second year coach Ron Chicoine (Who is also Lewiston High School’s boy’s coach), the Huskies have a made drastic turn around in the last two seasons. The team’s 7-6 record in 2010 (with a 4-4 LEC record) marked their first winning season since 2003 when the Huskies were 6-5 and 4-1 in the LEC — and they’re only losing one player to graduation (LEC second team doubles player Erica Robertson).
3. Field hockey’s academic excellence
Along with all of their effort and dedication put in on the field, the USM field hockey team logs an equal amount in the classroom and into their schoolwork. Of the 27 players on the Huskies’ 2010 roster, 11 were honored as a part of the 2010 Division III National Academic Squad, which recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of the academic year. The list included one senior in Jennifer Massessa; five juniors including co-captains Bethany Bougie and Shayara Linscott, as well as Haley Carter, Kayla Kimball and Amy Richardson; two sophomores, Brianna Dostie and Rachel Trafton; and three freshman, Ariel Kaplan, goaltender Kayla Kennedy and Julia Richardson. On top of that, the team won its second consecutive National Field Hockey Coaches Association DIII Academic Team Award with its team GPA of 3.199.
4. Baseball’s run rampage
After the USM baseball team’s 2-1 season opening loss to Plattsburgh State on March 5, the Huskies’ were in need of a win. The next day they got that win, as they sprayed 31 hits, including six home runs (with two from senior outfielder Mike Eaton), en route to 29-4 romping of the College of Mt. St. Vincent at the Baseball Heaven complex in Yaphank, New York. The last time USM scored that many runs in a game was on April 8, 2000 when they defeated LEC foe Western Connecticut 33-5. I guess you could say the Huskies were hungry.
5. Women’s basketball misses tourney, but season is highlighted by memorable performances
For the first time since 1994, the highly-touted USM women’s program failed to make the NCAA tournament and for the first time in 31 they won less than 20 games. But that didn’t stop Head Coach Gary Fifield and the Huskies from making a post-season appearance. USM earned a second seed in the ECAC DIII New England Women’s Basketball Championship, winning games against former Huskies’ star Julie Plant and Regis College, and Endicott College before falling to the number one seed University of New England in the championship game. The 2010-2011 season was also highlighted by a team-leading 16 double-doubles by junior forward Courtney Cochran, and senior Kaylee DeMillo’s 1,000th career point and claim of the USM career 3-pointers record with 207.
6. A hot start for men’s basketball
After coming off a season in 2009-2010 when they went 2-23 and 0-10 in the LEC, the USM men’s basketball team got off to a hot start in ’10-’11. The Huskies won their first four games against UNE, Wentworth Institute of the Technology, UMaine Presque Isle and Bates before losing to St. Joe’s 81-75 in Gorham on Nov. 28. USM’s 4-1 record in the first two weeks of the season matched their best since the ’98-’99 season when they started 6-0. Because of injuries and eligibility issues the Huskies were ailing after winter break and ended the season at 10-15 and 2-12 in the conference.
7. Harmon sets record after record
Records are meant to be broken, and when junior USM thrower Matt Harmon is in the building, it’s an almost automatic shatter. Since he transferred to USM last year, Harmon has set and broke the USM record in the hammer throw seven times dating back to March 20, 2010. Not only has he been breaking them since then, but he has improved his mark by almost 20 feet, with his latest record set at the 2011 LEC/NE Alliance meet on Saturday at Fitchburg State University, where he recorded a throw of 164-1.
8. Cole keeps nationals trend running
USM senior Billy Cole became the fifth wrestler in history of USM’s wrestling program to earn a berth in the NCAA DIII National Championship tournament by winning the 133-pound title at the New England Wrestling Association Championships at Trinity College on Feb. 27. Cole, who was the third USM wrestler in the past three seasons to make it to the National Championship tournament, was bounced from the tournament after dropping his two matches in the opening round. Cole finished the season with a record of 25-7.
9. Award central
A heap of Huskies were honored by the LEC and other various college athletic associations during the ’10-’11 season, with some taking the cake as the players and coaches of the year in their respective sports. Among these outstanding athletes and coaches were senior men’s soccer player Pete McHugh who was the 2010 LEC Offensive Player of the Year; senior cross country, indoor and outdoor track runner George Foster who was named the 2011 LEC Track Athlete of the Year; men’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field Head Coach Scott Hutchinson who was named the 2010 LEC Coach of the Year; and women’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field Head Coach George Towle who was named the 2011 LEC Indoor Coach of the Year.
10. Full-team effort from women’s lacrosse
Coming off a year in which it won its first LEC title, the USM women’s lacrosse team is turning heads again this season, and they’re doing it with a mix of veteran and young talents. Senior Mary Vaughan is leading the team in points with 47 (23 goals, 24 assists), and Sophomore and freshman tandem Shelby Turcotte and Rosie Forster are leading the team in goals scored with 32 and 33. Sophomore goaltender Samantha Kiesel is leading the LEC with 246 saves. The future looks bright for third-year coach Lauren Reid’s team.