When you’ve allowed four goals in four games but still don’t have a win, even someone who doesn’t know a thing about soccer can diagnose the problem.

The Colby men addressed that with Saturday’s 7-0 win over the University of Maine at Farmington. It brought the Mules to seven goals in five games and a 1-2-2 record.

“At least we have a leading scorer now, and that boosted our goals for,” Colby coach Mark Serdjenian joked.

Colby is 0-1-2 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference, with two 0-0 ties and a 1-0 loss in overtime. One of those ties was against Tufts, which is ranked 22nd in the country in Division III.

“We’re playing hard. We’re battling. We’re playing attractive soccer,” Serdjenian said. “We’re just not scoring goals.

“I think we have to keep playing hard. It’s not like we haven’t produced chances. We just haven’t finished them. But that’s the lament of many soccer coaches.”

Advertisement

And overall, Serdjenian said, he isn’t concerned that the goals will come, or about the team as a whole.

“Our team defense is tremendous,” he said. “Our goalkeeper (sophomore Cody Funkhouser) has been strong. Our fitness is exceptional, I think. You would hear a different tone in my voice if I were discouraged.”

One of the key cogs to the defense is center back Nick Nowak, a senior captain.

“He’s kind of the anchor back there,” Serdjenian said. “I think all the backs have played well. They’re getting our system, and really falling into that well.”

• • •

The numbers on the Thomas College men’s cross country aren’t huge, but they’re better. That’s a big reason the Terriers could have their most successful season in several years.

Advertisement

“The men are doing really well,” Thomas coach Kerry Smart said. “We are 10 strong right now, which for us is a bigger team that we’ve had in my four years here.”

Sophomore Will Janakis and freshman Evan Boudreau have flip-flopped at the top two positions this fall, and senior David Tirabassi is No. 3. The next three runners are all freshmen — Sam Cook, Cameron Brousseau, and Connor Pinkham.

“We go four more deep with guys who are getting better every day,” Smart said. “We’re picked ninth in the conference, but we’re running a solid sixth right now. I think 3-4-5-6 could be anybody’s game, depending on who shows up that day.”

That realization, Smart said, has changed the attitudes of her runners. It’s a little easier to get motivated when you have a realistic shot to make a leap forward.

“Practices are different,” she said. “My guys just are pushing each other. When you have a little bit of success in your first couple meets, and you’re running well, I think that’s infectious.”

The women’s team is working to get to that point. There are six runners on the roster, and at a recent meet, the Terriers were missing one to illness and another to an academic commitment. That left them with four runners, so they couldn’t score as a team.

Advertisement

“They’re still young,” Smart said. “There’s still work to be done there. They’re getting better. I’d like to bring in a few more girls next year, just to be a little deeper.”

The top three runners for the Thomas women this season are sophomore Jericca Stackpole, senior Chelsie Morris, and senior Amanda Dion.

• • •

Colby volleyball coach Candice Parent earned her 300th career win last week. Parent’s record is 300-249, including 7-2 this season.

That 7-2 mark is the best start for the Mules since they began the 2005 season by winning their first nine matches. That team went to the NCAA Division III final eight.

Colby has only two seniors on its roster. The Mules are one of three remaining unbeaten teams in the NESCAC, along with Bowdoin and Williams. Colby is at Williams on Friday, and hosts Bowdoin Oct. 5.

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.