UMFK has built a soccer tradition of not only excellence on the field but in the classroom as well.  We are looking for players who share the same desires to succeed.

HEADLINES

Coach Bill Ashby and Andre "Shorty" Anderson show off their Region X Coach and Player of the Year hardware from this past 2007 season.

UMFK staff photos

Bengals go to the Dogs

3.6.08

Fort Kent, ME - With temperatures in the single digits anda prediction of 12 inches of snow on the way, the University of Maine at Fort Kent men’s soccer team members guided world class athletes to the starting line for the 16th Annual Can-Am International sled dog race.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent men’s soccer team volunteered as dog handlers and event setup crew for the one of the marquee sled dog venues in the lower 48 states.  The Can-Am 250 mile race is a qualifier for the renowned Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska.  

The Can-Am, which is held in Fort Kent, Maine each year, sponsors a 30 mile race, 60 mile race and the 250 mile Iditarod qualifier race.  With an estimated 5000 people lining the snow covered Main Street of Fort Kent, the 90 Mushers and 1000 dogs were treated to loud cheering and an air of excitement as they started their race, which offers over $40,000 in prize money.

Emlyn Jacoby of Johannesburg, South Africa, UMFK soccer team captain, was one of the starting gate dog handlers.  “My job was to help bring the dog teams from the staging area to the starting gate.  Once the dogs were hooked into their harnesses, it was all I could do to hold them back, they were ready to run.  It took several handlers per team to hold the dogs back.  I was very surprised by their strength and focus to compete.  These dogs are true athletes.”

Andre Anderson and Barrington Blake of Jamaica were also dog handlers for the 90 teams.  “I had a great time handling the dogs, these dogs are crazy with excitement, I couldn’t believe how fast they are and how far they can run,” said Blake.  “When Coach Ashby told me we were working the dog race I was a little nervous, before this race I was not a dog lover, but these dogs are something else.  I would love to be a dog handler next year as well”, said Anderson. 

“We had to have a dog team to the starting line every two minutes,” said Dwayne Smith of Jamaica.  “There was no trouble in getting them to the starting line, but it was all you could do to keep them there until the count down,” said Smith.

Story featured on NAIA Region X page

Complete 2008 Can-Am Crown results

Ashby to coach summer NPSL team Maine Sting

12.6.07

Bangor, ME - The Maine Sting announced today that Bill Ashby has been awarded the position of head coach in 2008.  Ashby will provide the organization an experienced leadership to the newest addition to the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) Northeast Division. Atlantic Sports Group Press Release

Soccer players honored as NAIA Scholar Athletes, All-Americans

11.26.07

UMFK staff photo

NAIA National Office - Multiple UMFK men's soccer players were recognized by the NAIA as the men's 2007 Daktronics-Scholar Athlete teams and 2007 All-American teams were announced prior to Thanksgiving.  Miguel Gomez (Sr., Fwd Islas Canarias, Spain), Andrew Martin (Jr., Fwd Van Buren, Maine), Dustin Nadeau (Sr., Back St. Francis, Main) and Sean Platt (Sr., BacK Keene Valley, NY) all made the men's scholar athlete team.  Martin and Platt joined teammates Derick Plourde (Jr., GK Fort Kent, Maine) Andre Anderson (Fr., Fwd Manchester, Jamaica), Dwayne Smith (So., MF St. Elizabeth, Jamaica) Emlyn Jacoby (So., MF Johannesburg, So. Africa) and Geovanni Sinclair (Fr., Back St. Elizabeth, Jamaica) as All-American honorable mentions.  A complete list of award winnners can be found at the below links.

2007 Men's Soccer Daktronics Scholar Athletes

2007 NAIA Men's Soccer All-American Team

Tony Gauvin Photo

Bengals magical season comes to an end

11.15.07

Olathe, Kansas - #4 Ohio Dominican ended the finest season in UMFK men’s soccer history and one of the best runs by a Maine college with a convincing 7-0 win in a 2007 NAIA National Tournament quarter-final game in Olathe, Kansas at the CBAC Center on the campus of Mid American Nazarene.  The Panthers advance to the semi-finals with the win and end UMFK’s season for the third time in four years. 

Scott Shrewsbury scored just 36seconds into the match on a 20yard shot that was misread Bengal keeper Derick Plourde (Fort Kent).  The Bengals seemed to be a step behind for most of the first half as the Panthers would score four more times in the first.  Eddie Hertsenberg (19:50), Joey Held (25:51) and David Bauer (33.56) found the back of the net and Held's second goal of the half in the 39th minute gave the Panthers a 5-0 commanding halftime lead.  The Bengals would show signs of life in the final ten minutes of the first half as Andre Anderson (Manchester, Jamaica) broke free on two occasions for point blank attempts only to be turned away by an ODU defense that gave up only four goals all year.  The Panthers added two more second half goals by Zach Roberts in the 67th minute and Devin Cowan at 78:19.  The Bengals simply didn’t get enough opportunity vs. a very capable defense and the early goals gave ODU even more flexibility on both ends of play.  Plourde, under pressure all day, made eight saves as the Panthers out-shot UMFK 15-4 and advance to the national semi-finals.  ODU keeper Eric Pfiefer made two saves to record a record of his own, a 16th shut-out on the year.  UMFK has now ended their season at the hands of Ohio Dominican three out of the past four years. 

Although UMFK got outplayed in this particular game, they were able to string together 21 straight wins including their second straight Region X Title.  UMFK who ends the year at 21-1-0 made history as the first team in school history to break into the NAIA Top 25 and then stayed their getting as high as #18 in the nation.  The team set team records in wins (21), overall points (345), goals (117), assists (112), as well as shutouts (12).  Andre Anderson set single season points (66) and goal (27) marks as a freshmen and Emlyn Jacoby (Johannesbury, S. Africa) now holds the individual assist record (21).  Plourde’s 12 shutouts are new bench mark.  The program’s first National Tournament trip was perhaps the most significant record achieved as they gain valuable experience at the highest level of soccer in the NAIA and have but the UMFK program on the national scene.  UMFK will begin to set their sights on 2008 with 11 regular starters returning, Coach Ashby’s Bengals should only get better.

Bengals Advance, win first ever National Tournament match

11.14.07

Olathe, Kansas – The UMFK men’s soccer team magical season continued Wednesday with a first round 2-1 win over #20 Northwestern (Iowa) at the 2007 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Tournament.  The win was the first ever for UMFK playing in their first ever National Tournament contest.  Dwayne Smith opened the scoring for UMFK (21-0-0) in the 33rd minute on an assist from Andre Anderson and scored from outside the top corner of the box.  Anderson then added another goal in the 41st minute has he took the ball from a Northwestern defender and scored from about 20yards out to give UMFK a 2-0 halftime lead.  Northwestern answered in the 58th minute as their leading scorer Brad White broke free on a rebound and finished under UMFK keeper Derick Plourde to get the Red Raiders within one goal.  NWC (12-8-1) kept heavy pressure on UMFK for the remainder of the match but the Bengal defense and Plourde were able to keep them from converting.  Plourde finished the match with six saves on seven shots including five big saves in the second half.  NMC keeper Ben Schneider made three saves on five UMFK shots.  The #13 Bengals advance to play #4 Ohio Dominican who had a first round bye.  The game will be played at 1pm (ET) on Thursday.

Bengals take Sunrise Conference Championship

11.5.07

#1 UMFK 2  #2 SUNY Canton 0

Portland, ME – Andre Anderson (Manchester, Jamaica) scored two first half goals and #1 UMFK defense controlled play in a 2-0 win over #2 SUNY Canton to give the Bengals an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Olathe, Kansas Nov. 14th – 20th at the College Boulevard Activities Center on the Campus of MidAmerican Nazarene University.  Anderson, who was named Rookie and Offensive Player of the Year by the conference on Thursday, scored in the second minute on an assist from Luka Odak (Kutina, Croatia) and Sean Platt (Keene Valley, NY) and again in the 35th minute on a beautiful feed from Emlyn Jacoby (Johannesburg, South Africa).  In the second half, UMFK tightened up their defense and controlled possession to earn their first ever trip to the NAIA National Tournament after two appearances in the NAIA Region IX tournament in 2004 and 2006 which both ended in losses to Ohio Dominican.  This season, the sunrise conference added new teams to the soccer mix with Fisher College and SUNY Canton giving them seven members and the chance for the conference champion to advance directly to the 20 team NAIA National Tournament.  UMFK (20-0-0 / 14-0-0 SC) has had their eyes on that prize all season wining 20 consecutive games to earn their trip.  The Bengals out-shot SUNY Canton 22-12 and had a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks.  Derrick Plourde (Fort Kent, ME) got the shutout win for UMFK who will now wait unitl midweek to see who they get in the first round of their first ever National Tournament appearance.  SUNY Canton (12-5-0 / 11-3-0), who had an extremely impressive season in their first year of Sunrise Play, got four saves from keeper Steven Bullcok but simply could not solve the Bengal defense.  They are not alone, 20 teams have tried this season and all have failed.

Bengal advance to fifth straight conf. final with shutout win

11.4.07

#1 UMFK 3  #4 Paul Smith’s 0

Portland, ME – Andy Martin (Van Buren) scored two goals and Andre Anderson (Manchester, Jamaica) had a goal and an assist as #1 UMFK beat #4 Paul Smith’s College 3-0 to advance to the Sunrise Conference Men’s Soccer Finals.  Derrick Plourde (Fort Kent) got the shut-out in goal for 19-0 UMFK making one save on four shots while PSC keep Paul Dudek made 13 saves on 37 shots in the loss.  Emlyn Jacoby (Johannesburg, S. Africa) and Dwayne Smith (St. Eliz., Jamaica) had assists for UMFK who advances to play #2 SUNY Canton who were 3-2 winners over U-Maine Machias in the other conference semifinal.  The championship game will be played at 11am on Monday at Deering High School's Memorial Field with an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Olathe, Kansas on the line.

Anderson named Rookie & Player of the Year, Ashby Coach of the Year

11.2.07

Portland, ME - Freshmen star Andre Anderson (Manchester, Jamaica) was named Rookie and Offensive Player of the Year, Head Coach Bill Ashby was named Coach of the Year and UMFK took seven of fourteen spots on the Sunrise All-Conference Team as individual and team awards were handed out Thursday evening in Portland, ME by the Sunrise.  2007 Sunrise Conference Men's Soccer Awards