Seeking TCCC Supremacy

Seeking TCCC Supremacy

With just under two weeks remaining in the regular season, here's a look at how things are shaping up for the University of New England Nor'easters as they chase a conference title.

Field Hockey - Joan Howard's crew picked up a huge win this past Saturday, routing previously unbeaten (in the TCCC) Nichols. UNE put up a four-spot in the first half, then finished strong after the Bison answered with a pair of goals. The Nor'easters (9-2, 5-1 TCCC) are one of three teams currently with one conference loss. They will complete a suspended contest with Western New England on Thursday, then host New England College on Saturday in a game that could determine the top seed for the TCCC Tournament.

Women's Soccer - The Nor'easters (12-1 overall) are riding an eight-game win streak and are tied with Endicott with the top record in the TCCC. Doug Biggs' team controls its own destiny -- by virtue of defeating the Gulls earlier in the season -- and can lock up the number seed and home-field advantage by winning the remainder of its conference games.

Men's Soccer - The conference standings are tightly-bunched on the men's side, with three teams tied for fourth place with 18 points. Led by Andy Biggs, the Nor'easters are one of those teams in the gridlock. UNE has a rugged schedule left to go with dates against Roger Williams and WNEC, the two top teams in the standings. One victory in UNE's final three TCCC games (the Nor'easters also play Nichols) could secure a playoff spot. A sweep or 2-of-3 could wrap up a first-ever home playoff game since UNE joined the conference in 1999.

Volleyball - Karol L'Heureux's troops are 4-4 in conference play with matches against Gordon and Anna Maria remaining on the docket. The Nor'easters will need to sweep that tri-match and get some help in order to host an opening-round tournament game for the fourth consecutive season.

Cross Country - The men and women have a week off before competing in the TCCC Championship on Halloween. Both of Ron Ouellette's squads have had solid seasons and hope to challenge for conference titles. Jess Partlow on the women's side and Matt Veiga on the men's side have the ability to claim the individual hardware in their respective race.

Golf - And while it is technically considered an invitational since too few TCCC schools sponsor golf as a varsity sport, Kasey Keenan's team will compete in the conference event Oct. 22.

A September to Remember

A September to Remember

With the first month of the 2009-2010 UNE sports season in the rear-view mirror, here is one person's take on the Top 5 stories and memorable moments from September (in reverse order).

5. Jess Partlow wins the Blazers Invitational - Despite missing a large portion of the cross country team's pre-season due to illness, Partlow broke her own course record at the event hosted by Elms College, shaving six seconds off last year's time to win the event by posting 19:42.

4. Milestone victories - Both the women's and men's soccer teams collected their first-ever wins over a pair of opponents. Sophomore Maggie Mahoney's goal with less than a minute to play gave the women a win over Colby -- the Nor'easters first win over the Mules in 12 meetings. Eleven days later in front of a large Homecoming crowd, the men defeated Endicott 1-0 when Owen Evans punched home a goal in the 53rd minute. Before that match, the Nor'easters were 0-9-1 in the all-time series with the Gulls.

3. Sister Act - A case of one sister trying to out-do the other? Women's soccer players Kristin and Monica Meza provided the women's soccer team with consecutive overtime victories. Monica gave the Nor'easters an epic win over perennial TCCC power Endicottt with a golden goal 7:40 into overtime. Then, just three days later, the elder sibling gave UNE a hard-fought 3-2 extra-session victory at Salve Regina.

2. One for the record books - Senior field hockey player Taryn Flagg added another chapter to her storied career by breaking the program's all-time mark for goals scored, assists and total points. All three marks were previously held by '08 graduate Lisa Baillargeon.

1. Turning heads - Picked to finish 11th in the TCCC pre-season poll, the men's soccer team recorded a 7-2 overall record and 4-1 conference mark during September. The Nor'easters strung together a six-game winning streak and are off to their best start in more than 20 years.

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!