Author Archive
Friday, May 1st, 2009, 10:10 pm
Belcher, Downey sign NFL Rookie Contracts
by Adam Clark- Former University of Maine football stars Jovan Belcher and Andrew Downey signed rookie free agent contracts following last weekend’s NFL Draft. Belcher signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Downey inked a deal with the Detroit Lions. Belcher was one of the top players in the FCS (formerly I-AA) division. The defensive end was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and was second in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS. Downey was a standout linebacker for the Black Bears and was a second-team CAA pick this past season. Both players will participate in the team’s minicamp this spring.
- While Belcher and Downey will be moving on to the pro ranks, most of next year’s squad will take part in the annual Jeff Cole Memorial Scrimmage. The spring game will conclude spring practice tomorrow at 10 a.m.
- Next year’s schedule has finally been released. Jack Cosgrove and UMaine were waiting to fill one more game and did so by agreeing to play D-II St. Cloud State in their home opener. That game will take place on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Alfond Stadium. Other highlights on UMaine’s schedule include games with Syracuse of the FBS (formerly 1-A), Richmond (defending FCS champ), James Madison and New Hampshire.
Friday, April 17th, 2009, 10:02 pm
Baseball, Softball host conference foes this weekend
by Adam ClarkThe University of Maine baseball and softball teams will be in action at home this weekend. The baseball team welcomes UMBC to Mahaney Diamond for a four-game America East set with a doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday. The first game of each doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. The softball team plays a doubleheader against Hartford at Kessock Field on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. They close out the three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 12 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009, 11:04 pm
Baseball to battle UNC, Oregon St. in 2010
by Adam ClarkThe University of Maine baseball team has two national powerhouses tentatively scheduled for the 2010 season. According to the Bangor Daily News, coach Steve Trimper and the Black Bears have reached verbal agreements to play a three-game series at the University of North Carolina and a three-game series at Oregon State University. The UNC series is scheduled to take place from Feb. 26-28 in Chapel Hill, while the Oregon State series is slated for March 26-28 in Corvallis.
Oregon State and UNC met in the championship series of the College World Series in 2006 and 2007 with Oregon State winning both meetings. The 2006 UNC team won the Chapel Hill regional to begin the NCAA Tournament and defeated UMaine 15-7 in that regional.
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009, 8:12 pm
Blake James to FGCU?; Socoby transferring
by Adam Clark- University of Maine athletic director Blake James is one of 15 candidates for the same position at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Fla. James has been the A.D. at UMaine since 2005.
- Star shooting guard Mark Socoby has decided to leave the University of Maine men’s basketball team. The Houlton native was a Third Team All-America East pick as a sophomore and was the leading scorer on this team’s squad, scoring just under 13 points per game. Socoby cited personal reasons for transferring and has not decided where he will attend school next year.
- Check back at mainecampus.com for more updates on these stories.
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009, 3:01 pm
Smith makes Netherlands roster for World Baseball Classic
by Adam ClarkFormer University of Maine star Curt Smith was named to the Netherlands roster for the upcoming 2009 World Baseball Classic. The 2008 America East Player of the Year was a four-year starter for the Black Bears and was selected in the 39th round of the 2008 MLB Entry Draft.
The rosters for the 16 teams in the tournament were announced yesterday. The tournament will begin with first-round games March 5-8. Second round games will be played March 14-19. The semifinals and finals will be held March 21-23 at Dodger Stadium. The games will be televised by ESPN and the MLB Network. The Netherlands will play in Pool D and will open play on Saturday, Mar. 7 at 11 a.m. with a game against the Dominican Republic at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The two other teams in Pool D are Puerto Rico and Panama.
This is the second WBC. The first tournament, during spring training in 2005, was won by Japan.
Thursday, February 12th, 2009, 5:22 pm
Black Bear hockey’s remaining games
by Adam ClarkScouting the remaining Hockey East schedule for the University of Maine men’s hockey team:
2/13-2/14-#2-Boston University-22-5-1 (13-5-1 Hockey East)
The Terriers have proven their worth in their ascent to the top of the national rankings. Three of the top 10 scorers in Hockey East skate for the Terriers, who tout the most prolific offense in Hockey East with 97 goals, an average of 3.73 per night. Colin Wilson leads the league with 36 points. The Terriers also have the stingiest defense in the league, allowing 1.96 goals per game. Freshman goaltender Kieran Millan ranks third in the nation with a 1.65 goals against average.
Season series vs. UMaine: BU leads 1-0-0
2/20-2/21-at #7-University of Massachusetts at Amherst-11-14-3 (6-10-3 Hockey East)
The Minutemen have had a season of peaks and valleys. They have been inconsistent, but successful enough to maintain a winning record. With upsets over Boston University, Northeastern, and Boston College, they appear poised to be the dark horse of Hockey East. Rematches with B.U. Northeastern and UMaine will test the minutemen through the end of February. Sophomore James Marcou is second in the league in scoring, while freshman Casey Wellman is the rookie scoring leader.
Season series vs. UMaine: UMaine leads 1-0-0
2/27-2/28-#3-Vermont-16-6-4 (11-5-3 Hockey East)
The Catamounts picked up a weekend sweep in November over top-ranked Boston University to take the season series. They also grabbed two points in the final regular season meeting with Northeastern. The Catamounts are ranked fifth in the nation, due to forwards Viktor Stalberg and Peter Lenes, with 18 and 11 goals respectively. Vermont has the second most efficient power play unit in Hockey East, scoring 19.5 percent of the time.
Season series vs. UMaine: Vermont leads 1-0-0
3/6-3/7- at #5-University of Massachusetts at Lowell-13-13-0 (10-9-0 Hockey East)
The River Hawks have relied on defense and an effective goaltending duo to win four of their past five games after a six game losing streak. An up and down season has left fan’s wondering which team will show up down the stretch, but consistency lies in 62 goals allowed that trails just Boston University for the fewest in Hockey East.
Season series vs. UMaine: UML leads 1-0-0
-By Steven McCarthy
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009, 10:28 am
Nation’s top team brings game to Orono this weekend
by Adam ClarkCoach’s Corner with Tim Whitehead
Keys to success against Boston University:
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Set the tone physically, but stay out of the penalty box-”Discipline is going to be very important. Physical play and discipline have to come hand in hand.”
- Play to our strengths on special teams- “We respect that this is the other team that’s really been sharp in this area, so we want to come out on top in the special teams. If we’re physical, and we’re disciplined, and we win the special teams, we’re going to put ourselves in a position to win some hockey games.”
-Compiled by Steven McCarthy
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009, 10:43 am
UMaine hockey heads to UNH to take on rival
by Adam ClarkCoach’s Corner with Tim Whitehead
Three Keys to Success against UNH:
1) “Play smart on the Olympic sheet of ice. Make sure we put the puck in the right spot when we don’t have a play.”
2) “Protect the weak side of the ice. UNH is great at attacking across the ice, using the weak side, so we have to protect against that. Watch the back door on the weak side.”
3) “Continue to execute on the special teams, which has been a real strength of ours this year. We’re second in the league in special team plus-minus, and we have to continue to execute in that area. That’s one of our strengths, and we’ve got to play to our strengths.”
-Compiled Steven McCarthy
Monday, February 2nd, 2009, 6:05 pm
Wilson named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week
by Adam ClarkUniversity of Maine junior goaltender Dave Wilson was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week after his efforts in net this past weekend. Wilson recorded a career-high 35 saves in Friday night’s 3-2 loss to UMass Lowell and stopped 21 shots in Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 win over UMass. The Black Bears currently sit in eighth place in the Hockey East standings three points ahead of Providence. They resume play this Friday at 7:30 p.m. when they visit the University of New Hampshire for a crucial two-game series. Friday night’s action can be seen on NESN.
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009, 9:00 am
Black Bear Basketball on NESN
by Adam ClarkThe University of Maine men’Ns basketball team takes on the University of Vermont tonight in a game that will be televised on NESN. The Catamounts (14-6, 5-2 America East), who are tied for the conference lead with Binghamton and Boston University, host the Black Bears (8-12, 3-4) in a key America East matchup at Patrick Gymnasium. Coverage begins at 7:30.
