Winter/Spring Sports Preview

With the fall sports season coming to a close, preparations are under way for the winter and spring sports teams.

Basketball
Up first for faithful fans of the University of New England sports teams, will be basketball season. Optimism is running high as each team has a veteran-laden squad coming back.

The women's program, which qualified for its first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament appearance last season, returns four seniors who have played a significant role during their first three years with the team.

imageMissy Stults ('04/Goshen, IN) was named last season's Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Year, while surpassing the 1,000-point mark for her career. A pair of guards, Melissa Roller ('04/East Sandwich, MA) and Amanda Brown (‘04/Scarborough, ME) combined to hit 146 three-point field goals and were each named to the all-conference team. Carley Bartolome (04'/Sanford, ME) was the team's only player to start all 28 games. She averaged 7.9 points and 5.8 rebounds. This quartet will be counted upon to provide valuable leadership to the 2003-2004 squad.

The men's team should certainly improve upon its 9-17 record of a year ago. Like the women, the men have a veteran nucleus returning, led by dynamic guard Nyaten Gaye (‘04/Providence, RI). Nyaten was one of the CCC's most prolific scorers at 19.4 point per game. Brandon Berthiaume (‘04/Springfield, MA) hopes to rebound from an injury that limited him to just 15 games. When healthy, Brandon provides a physical presence on the low blocks, as well as another scoring option. Nick Chapman (‘04/Weare, NH) and Dan Mills (‘04/Windham, ME) each have a wealth of experience and bring different strengths to the program.

When the snow clears and temperatures warm, it will be time for the spring sports season. All three UNE spring sport teams will be looking to rebound from an aggregate record of 18-24 in 2003.

Lacrosse
imageThe women's lacrosse team posted a 4-8 record, losing in the opening round of the conference tournament. Ruth Ness (‘05/Wolfeboro, NH) is the top returning scorer. She was an all-conference selection after netting 19 goals. Goalie Caitlin Powderly (‘04/Billerica, MA) will anchor the defense. Caitlin boasts a 9.98 career goals against average.
 
The men's lacrosse team is coming off a school-record five-win campaign. Goalie Paul Tabor ('04/Bristol, RI) was a major factor in the success of last season's team, recording an amazing .698 save percentage (fourth in the nation). Matt Vieira (‘05/South Paris, ME) is the top returning scorer. He and Ryan Rivard (‘05/East Freetown, MA) combined for 34 goals and 15 assists. The squad's top seven scorers will return in 2004.

Softball
The softball team should be once again led by the trio of Michelle Clark (‘05/Salem, MA), Amber Taylor (‘05/Merrimack, NH) and Amanda Brown (who will be participating in her third sports season of the year). Clark, the team's only all-conference selection in 2003, batted .397 with a team-best 14 runs batted in and 10 extra-base hits. Taylor had a team-high .431 and had just four errors at the challenging position of shortstop. Brown, the team's top pitcher, hit .295 and committed one error in 78 chances.
    

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