The USM athletics spring season is underway despite the “balmy” April days that we have been enjoying lately here in Southern Maine.
Our baseball, softball and women’s track and field teams have returned from their annual Florida excursions with mixed results from their efforts.
Men’s Basketball Coach Ed Flaherty’s squad returned from Ft. Myers, Fla., with a 4-7 mark, well below the excellence we have grown to enjoy from the boys of spring. However, upon returning to the northeast, the Huskies were able to sweep a double-header at Western Connecticut and last Wednesday drop a heartbreaking pair to Bridgewater State College at South Portland High School.
Playing well for the team down in Florida was junior Adam Lemieux (.409) and seniors Andy Lang (.393), Paul Tedesco (.372), and Tyler Delorme (.333). On the mound shining bright was sophomore Marc Cahill posting a 2-0 mark with a 2.76 ERA.
For the Lady Husky softballers, it is another story. The USM ladies enjoyed a fine Florida swing by recording a mark of 8-4. Before returning back to the soggy but friendly environment of the Gorham campus, the ladies stopped off in Providence, R.I. to split a pair of games with conference rival Rhode Island College.
The strong pitching of freshman Katie Mainville led the way for the Huskies. Mainville posted a 5-0 record with an outstanding 0.92 ERA in 38 innings and striking out 43 along the way. The softballers also have seven ladies that are hitting .300 or better and led by seniors Sarah McLean (.390) and Renee Heath (.341). Also hitting above par were freshmen Kristi Steward (.385) and Caterina Riitano (2 HR) along with sophomore Ashley Woodcock (.355).
The USM women’s outdoor track and field team also shared the Florida success at the Florida State University Relays in Tallahassee. Setting a new school record and placing 11th was freshman Brittany MacLean. MacLean leaped to a mark of 34-4 3/4 breaking the old mark of teammate of Kim Brewer.
Also faring well for the Huskies were senior co-captains Nikki Freeman, placing fourth, and Amy Swanberg tying for seventh position in the pole vault. Brewer and MacLean also fared well in the long jump, placing in positions of ninth and tenth respectively.
Both of the USM lacrosse teams began their spring campaigns posting mixed results early in the 2003 season.
The men are off to a 2-0 start with two season-opening victories at Emerson and Maine Maritime before dropping two close match-ups to Salve Regina and the University of New England.
The men are led by the scoring of sophomore Matt Butler, who leads the team in scoring with 11 goals and 14 points. Fellow sophomore Jonathan Gagne has netted 10 goals while freshman Paul Dubiel in second on the team in scoring with a balanced eight goals and five assists. Between the pipes has been the stellar play of freshman Jeff Lamoureaux with a 6.00 GAA.
Women’s Lacrosse Coach David Venditti’s ladies have had a tough 1-3 start to their season. The lone victory came at home in a 17-1 romping of Salem State College. The season started with losses at Bowdoin and Bates before losing 11-10 in overtime to Curry on April 27.
Sophomore Emily Kirkland’s eight goals and junior Jess Callahan’s five goals and two assists lead the Husky lacrosse women.