PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Most teams coming off a 3-12-1 campaign may think of themselves in a rebuilding mode going into the 2015 season. Take into account that the current roster is 70 percent freshmen and sophomore student-athletes, and most would agree that the Owls may be a few seasons away from turning the tables. After taking a deeper look into this year’s team, one may consider a more optimistic approach to the upcoming season.
Coach Alan Gordon, in his 25th year as the Owls’ head coach, would tend to agree.
“I am definitely pleased with the leadership of our returning players this preseason as well as how they have stepped up their play,” Gordon said. “I am equally impressed with the ability of the first-year players to make the quick adjustment to the college game.”
The youthful Owls will look to draw on the experience they gathered last year, and welcome in a group of talented freshmen to help boost their level.
Junior keeper Caleb Bragg-Grady of Whitefield returns after a brilliant 2014 season that saw him earn AD3I second team all-conference and AD3I player of the week honors last season. Bragg-Grady is working hard and will look to improve on his 78-percent save percentage and two shutouts from a season ago to continue to give the Owls a chance to compete in every match.
Bragg-Grady will be joined defensively by a number of backs that saw consistent playing time this past season. Juniors Brandon Bonney (South Bristol), Dean Costello (Glenwood) and Dan Swallow (Houlton) and sophomore Solomon Fast (Phillips) all started games for UMPI in 2014. Joining them will be junior AJ Dolley (Whiting) and freshmen Jacob Lassonde (Merrill), Sean Barbosa (Caribou), Kristopher Cyr (St. Agatha) and Colby Holdsworth (Caribou).
Sophomore Matthew Manter (Caribou) has made great strides in the offseason and will back up Bragg-Grady in the goal.
Perhaps the biggest turn of events for the 2015 squad will be the healthy return of forward Derek Healy (Hanover, Mass.). After leading the team with 14 goals in 2013 and earning AD3I first team all-conference, player of the week and player of the month awards, the junior was hurt in the preseason last year, and was only able to play in five games. He will look to lead a young front-line scoring threat that has shown much potential in the preseason.
Gordon has praised the young forwards and is eager to see them in action. Freshmen Matt Orcutt (Newport), Johnny Theriault, (Fort Fairfield), Cody Blair (Ashland), Brandon Danforth (East Millinocket), Mohamud Abukar (Lewiston) and Kyle Gilman (Danforth) will all look to give the Owls’ attack a boost.
Senior Joshua Cross (Bremen) and sophomores Chris Daly (Kingfield), Brandon Fuller (St. Albans) and Zach Veayo (Farmington) will use their experience to lead the UMPI midfielders this season. Freshman Reed DeRosier (West Enfield) will fill out that group, with Barbosa lending his talents as well.
The Owls opened their season with a trip to Unity College on Tuesday. The home opener will be on Friday, Sept. 4 when they host St. Thomas University of Fredericton at 3 p.m. That game will kick off a flurry of home games throughout September, including Maine Maritime Academy (Sept. 6, 2 p.m.), UM-Farmington (Sept. 9, 4 p.m.), Unity College (Sept. 13, 3 p.m.), Fisher College (Sept. 19, 2 p.m.), UM-Machias (Sept. 23, 4 p.m.), St. Joseph’s College (Sept. 25 at 2 p.m.) and UM-Fort Kent (Sept. 30, 3 p.m.).
The Owls will wrap up regular season play Oct. 21 when the travel to UM-Fort Kent (3 p.m.).
