After complications from Hurricane Irene forced the cancellation of their respective season openers on Friday, the University of Maine-Presque Isle men’s and women’s soccer teams showed that they were more than ready for the start of the season on Saturday when each traveled to Randolph Center to face Vermont Technical College.
The women began the day riding a wave of three goals scored by forward Desiree Smith coasting to a 9-0 romp of the Knights. The Owls’ Elana Estrada and Susan Lavertu added two goals apiece while Lainey Herring of Houlton and Chelsea Beauchemin rounded the out the scoring with solo tallies.
While the men’s final margin of victory was a closer 2-0, they were no less dominant than their female counterparts. UMPI outshot the Knights 34-9 in a contest that was not in doubt after Aaron Hutchins took a Lucas Bartlett tap and sent it home at the 17:36 mark in the first half. The Owls’ Kobe Ashkier then put the game out of reach with the team’s second goal at 39:47 in the first.
In Unity on Monday, the UMPI women made it a 2-0 start to the season with a 3-0 win over the Unity Rams.
Defense has been the early story for the Owls as they allowed a meager 7 shots by the Rams, of which only 2 required saves.
“Yeah we got some good defenders back there,” UMPI head coach Dan Williams said. “They don’t like to lose.”
UMPI will open its home schedule next weekend when they host Maine Maritime Academy on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m.
The men also made it a perfect start to the season with 6-2 win over the Rams.
Midfielder Carig Maggei scored two goals, the second coming off a penalty kick 30 seconds into the second half, to lead the Owls. Roland Thibodeau of Caribou also added a goal.
The Owls next game is at home on Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. against Maine Maritime Academy.