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Men's Soccer Concludes 2007 Season With Many Positives
Dec. 7, 2007
ORONO, Maine-- The University of Maine men's soccer team recently wrapped up the 2007 season. Led by first-year head coach Pat Laughlin, the Black Bears took positive steps forward in all areas of the program. The Black Bears welcomed 12 newcomers for the 2007 season and saw an immediate result. Entering the season-opener riding a 26-game winless streak, Maine defeated UMass 1-0 in overtime. UMass recently defeated top-ranked Boston College in the NCAA Tournament and will play next weekend in Cary, North Carolina in the NCAA College Cup as one of the final four teams in the country. Alex Rickett (Northville, Mich.) notched the game-winner for the Black Bears in the game against UMass and was then named the America East Rookie of the Week. Nemanja Kostic (New Belgrade, Serbia) made seven saves in the game to record the shutout. It was the first shutout for the Black Bears since recording a 0-0 tie with Binghamton on October 25, 2003, a span of 51 games. The Black Bears made it a perfect two-for-two at home when they downed Long Island University 3-2 on September 23. Maine got a pair of goals from Dimitri Anastasiou (Colchester, Conn.) in the game and a goal and an assist from rookie Thomas McCole (Toronto, Ontario). The three goals were the most that Maine had scored since scoring four in a 4-1 win over Manhattan on September 18, 2005. Maine opened America East play with a 1-1 draw with New Hampshire, an America East playoff team. Maine then defeated Hartford, which finished fourth in the 2007 America East standings, 2-1. The win over the Hawks ensured the Black Bears a winning record at home. Also in the game against Hartford, Maine head coach Pat Laughlin earned his 100th career victory.
In mid October, Coach Laughlin was named head coach of the Region I under 15 boys team. Region 1 covers states from Maine to Virginia on the East Coast. Laughlin had previously served as an assistant with Region 1 for the past five years. Maine remained in contention for an America East playoff berth until nearly the last week of the season. Anastasiou led the Black Bears in scoring with four goals for eight points, including a pair of game-winners. Rookie Thomas McCole finished with a pair of goals and an assist for five points. At the conclusion of the season, freshman Adam Baxter (Skegness, England) was named to the America East All-Rookie Team. He became the first Black Bear to earn a spot on the all-rookie team since Jimmy Velas (Falmouth, Maine) in 2004. The 2007 final RPI rankings were released in early November and Maine jumped up 69 spots from 2006, one of the most significant increases in RPI in the country. The Black Bears played two teams in 2007 ranked in the top five in Boston College and Brown, a team Maine dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to. Maine played 10 teams ranked in the top 55 in the RPI and 12 in the top 80. Several Big East and Atlantic 10 School were ranked behind the Black Bears. The Black Bears got leadership from its seniors Giacomo Brunino (Concord, Ontario), Dan Eggert (Allegany, N.Y.), Pat Halligan (Falmouth, Maine), Marshall Holmes (Albion, Maine), Kiaran McCormack (Dundalk, Ireland), Ben Piotrowski (Colchester, Vt.), and Velas during the 2007 season. All seven seniors are on track to graduate this spring. Maine is expected to return 13 letterwinners, including eight starters for the 2008 campaign. Things are definitely looking up for the Maine men's soccer program. -U-M- |
