Weathering The Storm; Enjoying The Moment

Weathering The Storm; Enjoying The Moment

Brandon Gormley and John-Michael Cascio have seen their share of ups-and-downs as four-year members of the University of New England men's soccer team. But with the Nor'easters off to a 6-1 start this season, both seemed to be very pleased with the way their final season is taking shape.

"It's an amazing feeling knowing that we're off to such a great start," Brandon said. "We came into this season with a chip on our shoulder, determined to better ourselves. Where we will go from here, who knows, but the same hard work and dedication that has got us this far...will continue."

JM would seem to concur with Brandon's enthusiasm.

"Starting out 4-0 in the TCCC and 6-1 overall has changed not only my attitude, by the team's attitude," JM commented. "We now all realize the potential on the team and the potential Coach (Andy) Biggs has brought in."

UNE's 6-1 start is the best the program has experienced in more than 20 years. Picked to finish 11th in the TCCC preseason poll, the Nor'easters find themselves sharing the top spot with Curry College with an unblemished 4-0 mark. The Big Blue have picked up a pair of significant wins over the past two weeks - claiming its first-ever victory over Endicott College and downing Gordon College for the first time since 1997.

What has been the cause of the Nor'easters' success thus far? From Andy Biggs' point of view, experience has played a large role."

"The experience of the veteran players has been key," Biggs said. "The veterans are applying the lessons they have learned over the past several years. We are definitely a more consistent team than we have been the last few seasons."

Mind Over Matter

(Basketball player JJ Roseman pumps himself up to snap a board in half with his hands)

Mind Over Matter

Captains and team leaders of UNE's sports program gathered Sunday evening for a three-hour session with dynamic motivational speaker Mike Howard.

Howard -- brother of Nor'easters' field hockey coach Joan Howard -- spoke to the group about breaking through their fears as athletes, while sharing keys to getting oneself into a peak emotional state.

The evening ended with each of the 40 or so student-athletes in attendance breaking a board with their bare hands, signifying each's ability to overcome an obstacle that holds them back.

Howard received rave reviews for his presentation.

"He got us amped up," junior cross country runner Matt Veiga said. "He got us to work together as a team."

"It was awesome," reflected senior lacrosse player Mallory Long. "I've never felt that much energy before."

Flagging Down a Record

Flagging Down a Record

She missed her entire sophomore year with an injury. Yet in a little more than two seasons, field hockey player Taryn Flagg is the program's leader in goals scored and total points (34 goals, 83 total points thru Sept. 18). Both of those marks were previously held by 2008 graduate Lisa Baillargeon.

Off to a red-hot start this season with six goals and three assists in four games, Flagg and the Nor'easters look like a solid contender for the TCCC Championship in the early going.

And what did breaking the school record mean to her?

"Here at UNE we pride ourselves in excellence both on and off the field, and it is exciting to achieve such an honor at this time in my career. A lot of hard work and dedication has been put in to achieving this accomplishment, but none of this would have been possible without the support of my coaches and teammates."

Student-athletes enjoy kick-off BBQ

Student-athletes enjoy kick-off BBQ

Director of Athletics Kim Allen and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President Ryan Tarr -- a senior captain on the men's soccer team -- addressed a large group of UNE student-athletes Wednesday afternoon at the Nor'easters' annual Student-Athlete Kick-Off BBQ.

In his remarks, Ryan lauded the accomplishments of the Nor'easters last year, including the TCCC championship won by the men's basketball team. He also noted the strong start of the fall teams to this point, which include the women's soccer team's best open since 1994, and his own team's best start since 1997. Ryan also recognized senior field hockey player Taryn Flagg for breaking the program's career mark for goals scored in a career, as well as total points.

Nothing like Opening Day

As a loyal Red Sox enthusiast, one of my favorite days of the year is the Sox season-opener. Hope springs eternal; I always think the Sox are going to go 162-0 (OK - that's a stretch, but at least I think they are going to win the World Series).

Well, today after traveling up to Gorham to watch the field hockey and men's soccer teams open their respective seasons with wins over the University of Southern Maine (FH 5-1; MS 2-1), all is good in the UNE sports world.

Will the field hockey team go 15-0? Will men's soccer go 17-0? That remains to be seen.

At this point, though, the Big Blue are on top of the world.

Now only if the Sox can find a #4 and #5 starter!