Owl teams begin fall schedule
The University of Maine at Presque Isle soccer and volleyball teams got their seasons underway last week.
The men’s and women’s soccer team both went 0-2 while playing a pair of weekend contests, while the volleyball teams was busy playing seven matches and coming away with a single win.
Two more of the university’s fall programs are in action this week for the first time.
The golf team, under new coach Jon Humphrey, hosts the UMPI Invitational Friday at Presque Isle Country Club. The cross country team kicks off its season at the Husson Invitational Saturday.
UMPI soccer team falls twice
The Owl men was beaten at Lyndon State College Saturday and UM-Farmington Sunday, both by 3-1 margins.
Derek Healy netted an unassisted goal in the loss to LSC. Junior goalkeeper Matthew Manter started in goal for the first time and finished with 14 saves.
Cody Blair scored early in Sunday’s game against UMF, giving UMPI a 1-0 advantage, but the Beavers bounced back to score three unanswered goals to come out on top.
The Owls, coached by Alan Gordon, face another difficult game as they host UM-Fort Kent tonight at 7 p.m. in a game to be played at the Gehrig Johnson Athletic Complex in Presque Isle.
Owl women lose 2 in tourney
The UMPI women’s soccer team was blanked by Western New England on Saturday, 5-0, before losing to Husson, 5-1, at the Husson Classic held in Bangor
Morgan Roy scored the Lady Owls’ only goal of the tourney.
“Western New England is a well coached team with a positive program culture,” said UMPI coach Trevor Parent. “We did a decent job for the first 60 minutes of the game keeping our shape, keeping their chances limited from the outside and dictating where the crosses were coming from into the box. That being said our fitness was a struggle after the first goal.
“The girls played real well in the second half against Husson,” Parent added. “We were committed as a team and disciplined. It is not the end result we wanted, but sticking with the process, improving each game.”
UMPI players Carla Halvorson and Autumn Poulin were named to the Husson Classic All-Tournament team for their efforts this weekend.
“This week we played two quality halves, now it’s about putting that type of performance in two consecutive halves,” Parent said.
The Owls return to action on Saturday for their home opener against Maine Maritime Academy at 12:30 p.m.
Volleyball team tops UMM
The UMPI volleyball team, under new coach Jonathan Bowman, recorded a 3-0 victory over UM-Machias Friday at the Husson Invitational Tournament played in Bangor. It was the Owls’ only win over the weekend as they dropped their other six matches.
In the victory, UMPI senior Abby Jewett led the team with 17 kills and Esmeralda Galvan set the tone of the match by leading the team with 12 service aces. The Owls would record 21 aces in the match. Laura Aroz took over the setter duties for the Owls and ended with 14 assists.
The Owls also excelled defensively, recording 34 digs. Galvan collected 10, while Jewett and Hannah Williams recorded nine apiece. UMPI looked to have their attack hitting on all cylinders in the third set, converting 10 kills on 17 attempts and recording just one error in those attack attempts.
UMPI’s losses were to Michigan-Dearborn, Husson, UMFK and Unity in Bangor and to USM and Castleton State in Gorham. All were by 3-0 margins except for the match against Unity, which was by a 3-2 decision.
The Owls will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Becker College in Worcester, Mass. They will face Pine Manor College at 1 p.m. and Becker at 3 p.m.
