Men’s Cross country
With a cast of 18 experienced returners from last year and 11 freshman with great potential, the Huskies Men’s Cross Country team look to have one of the best teams in school history. The team comes into 2009 ranked 4th in the Pre-season U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches DIII Poll for the New England Region and for the first time in school history ranked nationally at number 27 in Division III. Coach Scott Hutchinson has high expectations for his team this year as they look to be competing at the top of the LEC Conference along with last year’s champion Keene State College. Tyler Jasud (Rumford, ME) and Alex Gomes (Peabody, MA) will be the team’s top runners and are coming off a tremendous 2008 season in which they both qualified for nationals. Senior Captains Justin Richardson (Turner, ME), Nick Downing (Winthrop, ME), and Jon Letendre (Rumford, RI) also look to come back from a strong 2008 season and will provide leadership for the talent loaded Huskies.
Women’s Cross Country
The USM Women’s Cross Country Team also looks to be competing at the top of the Little East Conference as they placed second in the conference championships in 2008 only falling behind the Owl’s of Keene State College. The 2009 team features 8 returning runners which include Emily Artesani (Orono, ME), Christina Connolly (Boise, ID), Carly Dion (Biddeford, ME), Bethany Dumas (Augusta, ME), Erin Garvey (Haverhill, MA), Abby Kramer (Manchester, NH), Sarah Myrick (Weybridge, VT), and Alexandra Raynor (Lamoine, ME). The rest of the roster is balanced out by 9 incoming freshman who look to contribute greatly to this very skilled Husky Women’s XC team.
Field Hockey
Ranked 4th in the Pre-season LEC Poll behind Keene State, Plymouth State, and UMass Dartmouth, the USM Field Hockey team looks to make some noise in the conference this year. Hampered by early season injuries, Coach Bonny Brown-Denico has hopes for her team to get healthy and comeback strong this year, as they have lost in overtime in the last three LEC Tournaments. Senior Captains India Lowe (Gloucester, MA) and Allie Hill (Cape Elizabeth, ME), along with senior Caitlin Albert (Scarborough) and junior Heather Gilman (Fairfield, ME) look to provide leadership and experience in this young team. Freshman Kailey Bubier (Auburn, ME), Rachel Trafton (Corinth, ME), and Bethany Schleh (Gorham, ME) are will be seeing playing time at Forward, while new 2009 addition, sophomore Molly Hopkins (Augusta) will be holding down a solid defense.
Men’s Soccer
Coach Mike Keller’s squad looks to bounce back from 2008 season in which they lost 7 players to graduation. The Huskies are ranked third in the Pre-season Little East Conference Poll and will rely on a combination of veteran leadership and young talent to stay atop the Little East. Senior goalie David Kreps (Agawam, MA), defenseman Steve May (Brunswick, ME), and last year’s leading goal scorer senior Peter McHugh (Portland, ME) will be piloting the team in their quest for the LEC Championship.
Women’s Soccer
The USM Women’s Soccer team features a very young roster and look to rebound from a disappointing 2008 season. The squad this year is led by senior Captain and goaltender Allison Bradley (Auckland, New Zealand), Nicollete Greene (Freeport, ME), Samantha Mathieu (Belfast), junior Captain Ashley Larose (Cape Elizabeth), and senior Andrea Blanchette (Hodgdon, ME). The rest of the roster is composed of a mixture of several juniors and sophomores including juniors Heidi DeHaan (Lewiston) and Danielle Poulin (Readfield), sophomores Kat Rothe (Leeds) and Bridget Fitzgerald (Concord, NH), and 7 freshman who will help contribute time in the field for the Lady Huskies. Look for the Huskies to be competing in the middle of the pack this year in LEC.
Golf
Coach Reggie Grant’s team comes into the 2009 season with confidence after finishing third at the GNAC last year. The Huskies Golf team includes two returning players in the 2008 GNAC Co-Rookie of the Year Cody Berkowitz (Saco), and sophomore Zach Porter (Keene, NH). The golf team will be competing at a very high level as the 2009 season gets underway.
Women’s Tennis
USM’s Women’s Tennis team features a young cast as 6 of the 8 team members are freshman. With lone returner Erica Robertson coming back for her senior year, the Huskies look forward to a good year in the ever competitive LEC Conference, and are in hopes of winning their first conference championship since 2002.
Volleyball
In the team’s first year back since 2006, (when the sport was cut and made a club team) the USM Volleyball team is in hopes of gaining back a reputation in the Little East Conference. First season coach and Colby alumna Anne Tricomi looks to turn the Husky volleyball program around with the help and leadership from senior Captains Shannon Tuttle (New Ipswich, NH/ Mescenic Regional) and Danielle Netland (Cumberland, ME/ Greely).