UMPI Owl teams wrapping up fall season
PRESQUE ISLE – The University of Maine at Presque Isle women’s volleyball team battled to a second-place finish in the Sunrise Conference Tournament Oct. 30.
The Lady Owls defeated UM-Machias in a semi-final match 3-0, and then fell short to the University of Maine at Fort Kent 3-0 in the championship game. UMPI finished the season as the 2010 Sunrise Conference runners-up.
In the first match of the afternoon, the Owls handed the Clippers a 3-0 decision (25-19, 25-21, 26-24). Senior captain Megan Korhonen, playing in her final tournament, led UMPI with 24 assists and four digs in the win. Junior Karen Creighton had an outstanding conference tournament by adding 10 kills and four digs, while Allison MacDonald earned five kills and 11 digs. Amanda Moore and Rachelle Saucier each tallied five kills to help their Owl team.
In the championship match, the Owls faced the Bengals of UMFK who were undefeated and seeded first in conference. UMPI’s season came to an end, as the Owls fell by scores of 16-25, 20-25 and 10-25. Creighton led her team with eight kills and two blocks, while Korhonen tallied 13 assists. Freshman Shaina Hood earned five digs and Moore added four. With the split on the day, the Lady Owls finish the year at 4-14 overall and 2-6 in Sunrise Conference play.
Two Owls earned 2010 Sunrise all-conference honors as Korhonen and Creighton were both selected to the elite team for their consistent and outstanding play throughout the season. Korhonen finishes her career with 817 assists, 185 kills, 377 digs and 125 service aces, having played in 277 games (80 matches) over the past three seasons.
CANTON, NY – The University of Maine at Presque Isle women’s cross country team earned the 2010 Sunrise Conference Championship Oct. 30 on a rainy, five-kilometer course. Sophomore Kati Christoffel won the meet, finishing in a time of 21:37, which earned her runner of the year honors.
The Lady Owls placed the first four runners across the finish line. Following Christoffel was senior Shelly Hanson, who was second in a time of 23:11. She was closely followed by freshman Carly Langley, who finished in 23:22 for third place, while Justine Cyr came across the line in fourth with a time of 23:28.
Rounding out the Owl pack was Taylor Jo Quint placing a solid seventh in the race with a time of 25:52 on the day. Ally Pizzuti came across the line in 12th place overall, finishing in a time of 29:01.
On the men’s side, the Owls ran a solid race, led by junior Justin Fereshetian, who finished second overall in the championship race. Justin crossed the line in a time of 29:24, averaging sub six-minute miles.
Freshmen Zach Barnes and Jaron Gray finished the season with good efforts, while finishing in times of 35:42 (15th) and 36:22 (17th), respectively. Freshman Jesse Howard earned a time of 39:28, finishing in 22nd place overall, while Samuel Johnson (23rd, 39:28), Michael LeClair (24th, 39:50), and Richard Landry (25th, 40:15) all followed each other into the finish shoot to round out the Owl squad.
Owls earning all-conference awards included Christoffel as women’s runner of the year and Langley, who was named the Sunrise rookie of the year. Earning spots on the all-conference team were Hanson, Langley, Cyr and Quint.
Fereshetian was named to the men’s all-conference team.
Fereshetian will join Christoffel, Hanson, Langley and Cyr in traveling to the NAIA National Championships in Vancouver, Wash. They will race in the national meet Nov. 20.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle men’s soccer team improved to 11-5 overall and 9-3 in Sunrise Conference play with three recent wins.
The Owls solidified a No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament after defeating Vermont Tech College 2-0 Oct. 30, downing the College of St. Joe’s (Vt.) Oct. 31, 1-0, and besting Fisher College Saturday, 12-0.
Lucas Bartlett and Carl Nemer were the goal scorers in the victory over Vermont Tech. Chris Smith had the assist on Bartlett’s goal, while Matt Carrington assisted on Nemer’s and also led the Owl defense to the victory.
UMPI goalkeeper Joshua MacKinnon made one save on the day while facing just one shot on goal. UMPI outshot its opponents, 30-4.
The Owls then battled to a 1-0 win over the College of St. Joe’s in Rutland, Vt. Senior Seth Dorr provided UMPI with the winning goal on the day off an assist by Bartlett in the 67th minute of play.
UMPI closed out the regular season with the convincing 12-1 win over Fisher College in Boston.
No. 2-seeded UMPI takes on No. 3 UM-Machias Friday at 6 p.m. in the Sunrise Conference playoffs in Scarborough. A win moves the Owls into the finals against either UM-Fort Kent or SUNY-Canton Saturday at 3 p.m.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle women’s soccer team reached double figures in victories on the season in a 4-0 victory over the Green Knights of Vermont Technical College Oct. 30.
Lainey Herring opened up scoring on the day, notching what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 24th minute of play. She tallied her second goal of the day in the 55th minute, finding the back of the net off a set-up from Susan Lavertu.
Desiree Smith scored off an Elena Estrada assist before Lavertu closed out the scoring by converting on a pass from Carly Gillis.
Owl keeper Taylor Ussery picked up her sixth shutout by making three saves on three Vermont Tech shots on goal. UMPI outshot the opponents 22-6 en route to the win.
The Lady Owls finished 11-3 overall and 8-2 in conference play after the 9-0 win over Fisher College Saturday.
The women are the second seed in the Sunrise Conference tourney, which will be held Nov. 12 and 13 in Scarborough. UMPI takes on No. 3 UM-Machias Friday at 4 p.m. and the winner squares off against either UM-Fort Kent or SUNY-Canton Saturday at 1 p.m.
