Addition of Allen will bolster University of Maine at Presque Isle men

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The University of Maine at Presque Isle men’s soccer team opened the season when they traveled to Vermont to play Vermont Tech on Saturday and then Lyndon State College on Sunday.
The Owls return eight starters from last year’s team and with the addition of some key recruits should challenge for a trip to the USCAA national tournament.
Leading the list of returning players is senior midfielder Seth Cote of Ellsworth. Selected to the NCAA DIII All-Independent team in 2013, Cote played in the back for the Owls the last two seasons but will move into a midfield role this fall. His outstanding strength and athletic ability should allow him to control play on both the offensive and defensive sides of the field.
Also playing a key role to the Owls’ success in 2014 is second-year player Erik Gumaer of Windham, who was also selected to the All-Independent team a year ago. Gumaer will anchor the Owls defense with his exceptional skill, speed and ability to read the game and also gives the Owls a huge offensive threat with his ability to throw the ball deep into the box.
Derek Healy, a sophomore from Hanover, Mass., was the Owls’ leading scorer last fall and also made the DIII All-Independent team. However, he will miss the beginning of the season due to an ankle injury but will give the Owls a huge offensive lift when he returns to the lineup. His speed and strength on the ball will help the team create the scoring chances they need to compete at the highest level.
Also returning for the Owls with a year of experience under his belt is goalkeeper Caleb Bragg-Grady of Whitefield. He is coming off an excellent season in net for the Owls and appears ready to take his game to the next level.
Dan Swallow, a strong and physical defender from Houlton, joins Brandon Bonney, a second-year outside back from South Bristol, and Dean Costello, an outside back from Glenwood, N.Y., as  returnees to the Owls’ starting lineup in the back. The trio will team up with Gumaer to give the Owls an experienced defense presence this year.
Seniors Ryan Jones of Vinalhaven and Matthew Vick of Van Buren, as well as junior Joshua Cross of Bremen and sophomore Michael Guerrette of Presque Isle will play both outside midfield as well as forward for a team that has 17 first- and second-year players on the roster.
Andrew Dolley, another second-year player from Machias, and freshman Matthew Manter of Caribou, will challenge Bragg-Grady for time in net for the Owls.
Head coach Alan Gordon, who is entering his 23rd season with the Owls, is very excited about the addition of senior transfer Joshua Allen of Presque Isle. Allen will bring an immediate scoring threat to the Owl attack with his outstanding skill and ability with the ball and will create one of the top scoring tandems in the league when Healy is able to return from his injury.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the young players develop and come together as a team,” said Gordon. “It is a very exciting time for UMPI men’s soccer.”
Also joining the team are first-year players Zach Veayo of Farmington, Solomon Fast of Phillips, Chris Daly of Kingfield, Aaron Kofstad of Presque Isle, Brandon Fuller of St. Albans, Gable Stevens of Georgetown and Joseph Menice of Monmouth.