PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The University of Maine at Presque Isle men’s soccer team enters the season with plenty of optimism.
With the return of 11 talented players from last year’s team and the addition of 12 first-year players, head coach Alan Gordon is confident that this year’s Owls team is ready to meet the challenges of the American Collegiate Athletic Association conference and a rugged United States Collegiate Athletic Association schedule.
Leading the list of returning players are senior captains Chris Daly of Kingfield and Matt Manter of Caribou, who will anchor the Owls defense as the team’s center back and keeper, respectively.
Daly is a four-year starter who has been named to the NCAA DIII All-Independent team during his stellar career and will bring the skill, composure and mentality to lead the young Owl squad. Manter stepped into the starting goalkeeper position last season and his outstanding play earned him a spot on the NCAA DIII All-Independent team.
Joining them in the back line will be junior Brandon Danforth of East Millinocket, whose speed and quickness will help to limit the talented offensive lineups the Owls will face during the campaign. Sophomore Chad Bartlett of Bradley, who started at both midfield and back as a freshman last season, will give the defense a strong physical presence and the skill to help UMPI build its offensive attack.
Senior captain Sean Barbosa of Caribou will begin his third season as the Owls’ center midfielder and has both the offensive skills and defensive intensity to control the middle of the field. Senior captain Michael Guerrette of Presque Isle joins Barbosa at the midfield and has the experience and knowledge to help lead the team to a second consecutive conference playoff appearance.
Senior Brandon Fuller of St. Albans and sophomore Matt Caron of Caribou, sophomore Parker Thompson of Washburn and sophomore Allen Stanback of Salem, New Jersey will all challenge for starting positions at back and midfield due to their work ethic and desire.
Junior forward Cody Blair of Ashland returns for his third season as one of the Owls’ top offensive threats. Blair was named to the NCAA DIII All-Independent team his freshman season and has been one of the team’s top scorers his first two seasons. Blair will be joined up front by freshman striker Christopher Udobi, who is from Nigeria. Udobi has the speed, skill and athletic ability to be a major offensive threat.
First-year player Paul Kaplan of Embden also will step into the starting lineup and has shown the physical presence, knowledge and skill during the preseason to team with Daly on the Owls’ back line.
Freshman Ansumana Morrow of Presque Isle will be part of the UMPI starting lineup at center midfield and joins Udobi and Kaplan as members of one of the strongest recruiting classes Gordon has seen in many years. Morrow has the skill and ability with the ball to combine with Barbosa at the midfield to create numerous scoring chances.
Also adding to the Owls’ strong 2017 recruiting class are nine other freshmen. They include Talieson Peck of Tenants Harbor, Jacob Worthley of Houlton, Michael Brown of Easton, Reed Farrar of Greene, Chris King of East Millinocket, Lucas Husser of Biddeford, Gabe Hunnewell of Princeton, Mitchell McDunnah of East Millinocket and Caleb Thompson of Washburn.
Gordon said that all these first-year players have the athletic ability to step into the lineup and have an immediate impact on the success of the team.
“If we can stay healthy and see the strong recruiting class adjust to the collegiate game quickly, the season could be one of the most successful in many years,” Gordon said.
The Owls open their slate Saturday, Sept. 2, again Vermont Tech in Randolph Center, Vermont.
