Baseball
Ed Flaherty enters the 2023 season with over three decades of experience under his belt as he starts his 37th season as head coach of the USM Men’s Baseball team. The Huskies begin their season coming off a 23-19 (.548) record in 2022. Coach Flaherty continues his reign of the best record of a baseball head coach at USM with an outstanding .690 (1093-490). Additionally, Coach Flaherty is ranked in the top ten for most wins by an active NCAA Division III baseball coach.
The Huskies are ranked 38th in the nation by National Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (NCBN)’s preseason D3 Baseball poll and are still receiving votes in d3baseball.com’s poll. The team entered the Little East Conference Championship Tournament ranked No. 4, but their season ended with two tough losses to No. 3 Umass Boston (7-0) and No. 1 Eastern Connecticut (5-0). Eastern Connecticut would go on to win both the LEC Championship and the D3 National Championship.
Top Huskies to watch this upcoming season are junior Bryce Afthim, senior Arlo Pike, and junior Cam Seymour. All three Huskies received postseason honors, with Pike being placed on the All LEC 1st team for his efforts as the teams top designated hitter. Both Afthim (starting pitcher) and Seymour (first base) found a spot on the All LEC 2nd team with Seymour also finding a home on the All LEC 3rd team for his role as one of the Husky’s best relief pitchers.
The Huskies will open up the 2023 season on Friday, March 3 versus Salve Regina in Newport, Rhode Island at 1:00 pm. The first home game of the season for the Huskies will be a doubleheader on Saturday, April 1 against LEC opponent UMass Dartmouth at 1:00 and 3:00pm on Ed Flaherty Field.
Softball
Head Coach Sarah Jamo enters her 11th season this year after the USM’s Softball team finished their season going 24-16 (.600) overall in 2022. The Huskies had a LEC record of 13-3 (.812) which allowed them to enter the LEC Championship Tournament as the second ranked overall team. The team opened the LEC tournament with a loss to No. 3 UMass Dartmouth (11-6), a win over No. 6 Plymouth State University (6-2) before ultimately falling to No. 4 Castleton (1-0) to close out their season.
The Huskies return six players that received all LEC postseason honors; senior Lauren Ledidemann-Smith (First Team, second base), junior Belle Snyder (First Team, utility/pitcher), junior Rona Scott (Second Team, first base), senior Lauren Miller (Second Team, outfield), junior Lauren Merrill (Second Team, utility/pitcher) and sophomore Meaghan Dufresne (All Rookie Team, utility).
Coach Jamo and the USM Softball team will start their 2023 season in Kissimmee, Florida against Meredith College on Monday, March 13 at 9:00 am at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex. The first home game will be a doubleheader Saturday, April 1 at 12:00 and 2:00 pm versus LEC opponent Western Connecticut State University.
Men’s Lacrosse
The Men’s Lacrosse team finished the 2022 season with an overall record of 3-10, while having a conference record of 1-7. The Huskies finished their year coming in eighth in the LEC. Head Coach Sam Manders returns for his fourth season in charge.
Senior Nick James returns for his last year of eligibility. James started in all 13 games during which he set program records for single-game points (13) and most goals scored in a single-game (9).
Coach Manders and his team earned an eighth place ranking in the 2023 LEC Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll with 18 points. UMass Boston finished first overall with a total of 64 points.
The Huskies will start their 2023 campaign versus in-state rival Bates College on Wednesday, February 22 at 1:00 pm in Lewiston, Maine. Closely after the men will host their first home game Sunday, February 26 against Maine Maritime Academy on Hannaford Field at 4:00 pm.
Women’s Lacrosse
The Women’s Lacrosse team looks to continue to build upon the success of last season. Finishing 2022 with an overall record of 17-10 behind Head Coach Angela Mills. The Huskies secured a fourth place ranking heading into the LEC Championship Tournament after posting a 4-3 conference record during the regular season.
Mills, entering her third season as head coach, will have to rely on her strong trio of graduate student Rachel Shanks, leading scorer for the program, junior goalkeeper Cece Racine, who ranked in the top five for best save percentage for goalies in NCAA D3, and junior Kiaya Gatchell, who was named to Second Team All-LEC last season.
In the 2023 LEC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Coach Mills and the Huskies ranked third with 39 points, while Western Connecticut State University ranked first with 48 points and Plymouth State University placed second with 41 points.
The Huskies will open their season Saturday, February 18 versus Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts. Their home campaign will begin Monday, March 13 versus New England College at 4:00pm.