Owl women’s XC takes Sunrise

    The women’s cross country team from the University of Maine at Presque Isle captured the Sunrise Conference championship Saturday at the meet held in tough weather conditions at SUNY-Canton in upstate New York.     UMPI bested Paul Smith’s College, 22-33, with Vermont Tech participating without a full team.
    Hannah Smith of the Lady Owls was second overall with a time of 24 minutes, 11.9 seconds on the five-kilometer course. She was just 7.8 seconds behind the individual champion, Vermont Tech’s Sarah Flint.
    UMPI runners Shelley Hanson and Michelle Phillips were fourth and fifth, respectively. Their times were 24:46 and 25:45.2. Teammate Julie Rugg was seventh in 26:53.8. A total of 14 runners participated in the race.
    In the men’s event, Paul Smith’s College won with 40 points, followed by SUNY-Canton with 50 and UMPI with 55. Vermont Tech took fourth with 68 points.
    Emerson Wright fashioned the Owls best finish of the day. He was seventh in 31:12.6 on the 8K course. Teammates Kurt Whisler (10th, 32:53.4), Chris Rines (11th, 33:03.8) and Brad Burlock (33:06.8) finished in consecutive order, while Kyle Batchelder was 15th in 35:33.9 and rounded out the scoring for UMPI.
    Dean Rinehart of Paul Smith’s won the individual title in 29:28.8.
    The university’s cross country teams will now prepare for their trip to Nashville, Tenn. for the national qualifier to be held Nov. 8 against the best runners from the Sunrise and TranSouth conferences. This trip will be a new experience for the athletes, according to coach Chris Smith, and all are excited for the new upcoming challenge.
    The UM-Presque Isle women’s volleyball team is riding a seven-game winning streak into the upcoming Sunrise Conference Tournament, which is scheduled to take place Nov. 8 at St. Joseph’s College.
    The Lady Owls closed out the regular season Saturday at the Sunrise Conference Classic at UM-Machias, beating the three other competing teams in UM-Fort Kent, Paul Smith College of New York and the host Clippers.
    UMPI didn’t not lose a game throughout the day, as all three matches were won by 3-0 scores. The Owls end their regular season undefeated in Sunrise Conference play with an overall record of 14-3. 
    “The team seems to be peaking at the right time,” commented coach Terry Cummings. “We are looking forward to our NAIA Sunrise Conference Tournament, and hope to bring a championship back to UMPI.”
    The UMPI soccer teams dominated their conference opponents from Vermont at home over the weekend.
    The UMPI women blanked Vermont Tech Saturday, 3-0, before shutting out College of St. Joseph’s Sunday, 6-0. Chelsea Boudreau, Jessica Kinney and Erin Pelletier were the goal scorers against Vermont Tech, with Pelletier and Desiree Smith notching assists.
    Against College of St. Joe’s, Pelletier scored a pair of goals, while Boudreau, Victoria Tracy, Jacquelyn Raymond and Makayla Gahagan netted one apiece. Boudreau had the lone assist. Billie Martin and Carolynn Tuck shared goalkeeping duties in Saturday’s match, while Martin handled the chores by herself Sunday.
    UMPI improved to 10-5-2 overall with the two victories.
    The Owl men beat the same opponents by scores of 6-0 and 6-1 and are now 11-5-1 overall. In the game against Vermont Tech, six different players reached the scoring column, with Devon Peaslee, Seth Dorr, Trevor Hews, Dylan Harris, Corey Fournier and Craig Maffei all contributing goals. Maffei, Chris Smith and Joshua Peaslee pitched in with assists. Goalie Richard Felbaum saved two of five shots in goal for UMPI.
    It was another balanced attack Sunday, as Devon Peaslee, Fournier, Ben Costello, Tony Hibbard, Maffei and Brandon LeVasseur were the goal scorers for the Owls, who had 32 shots on goal in the contest. Felbaum made four saves on five shots.
    On Thursday, the UMPI teams fell to UM-Fort Kent in the annual Potato Barrel matches. The Owl men lost, 7-0, while the women dropped a 3-1 decision.