2/27 – In the annual Little East Conference coaches preseason poll, the Huskies were ranked 3rd of 8 in the conference, below Eastern Connecticut, ranked 6th in the nation, and Keene State College, ranked 30th in the nation. They open their season in Arizona over vacation, and have their home opener on April 1 versus Bowdoin College. This year’s captains are seniors Adam Ross (Spruce Head) and Eddie Skeffington (Everett, MA).
Women’s Track
At the ‘ship
3/8 – Six women represented USM at the Eastern Collegiate Athletics Conference Division III championship this season. Senior Hattie Landry (Acton) took 7th in the 200m, 5th in the 55m hurdles and 14th in the long jump. Junior Gabby Cyr (Fort Kent) took 11th and 12th in the mile and 3000m, respectively. Junior Emily Poliquin took 22nd in the triple jump. Sophomore Sarah Hale (Naples) went 15th in the 200m, and sophomore Emily Artesani (Orono) took 12th, as well as placing 16th in the 400m. Freshman Christina Connolly took 10th in the pole vault. To round out their performance, Hale, Artesani, Poliquin, and Landry took 5th place in the 4×220 yard relay. Landry provisionally qualified for the NCAA national tournament with her 8.54-second time in the hurdles, but in the end it wasn’t fast enough to take her there. The outdoor track season begins March 26.
Men’s Lacrosse
Huskies walk over St. Joe’s
3/11 – It was their first game of the season, and St. Joseph’s College’s first game ever. Held at Portland’s Fitzpatrick stadium, the game ended 15-4, with the Huskies seeing points from five men, including five from senior Matt Soule (Denmark), four each from junior Lee Gautheir (Berwick) and sophomore Alex Pleau (Lewiston) and one each from sophomore Mike Bartolucci (Brester, MA) and new player junior Preston Gilbert (Saco). The Huskies return to action with a much tougher match-up against Bates on Wednesday in Lewiston, and are scheduled to play at home next versus conference rival Eastern Connecticut on March 29 in Gorham.