Bengals Win on Senior Day and Secure Potato Barrel
October 22, 2018 • Fort Kent, ME

Fort Kent, Maine— The University of Maine at Fort Kent Women’s Soccer team prevailed over the University of Maine at Machias Clippers on Senior Day. The Bengals shook off a slow start to cruise past the visiting Clippers 4-0. In what was a dominant performance from the Bengals, one could see that the four Seniors left it all out on the pitch in their final home game of their careers. Valentina Green, Dakota Martin, Shannon Fillebrown and Logan Bubar all started and played magnificently. Logan Bubar even got herself involved on the scoring action finding the back of the net late in the second half for the fourth score of the contest. Tolu Oyeini lead the way for UMFK with a hat trick. 

In the second match of the day’s doubleheader, the University of Maine at Fort Kent Men’s Soccer Team was victorious over the visiting University of Maine at Machias on Senior Day in Fort Kent. The Bengals got off to a blazing hot start scoring two goals within the first two minutes of action. The onslaught continued as the Bengals dominated from start to finish. Perhaps the fast start to the game was due to the unique starting lineup that included the five Seniors on the roster, in their final home game as Bengals. Kevaughn Blake, Romario Romain, Lewis Cockburn, Rodney Witter and Kimar Smith all celebrated Senior Day and contributed mightily. Kimar cemented his legacy forever with a goal midway through the second half. 

Meanwhile in Vermont, the UMFK Women’s Volleyball team was dominant in its two straight set victories over Johnson State College and Lyndon State College. Against Johnson State, the Bengal got off to a fast start and never let up, rolling over Johnson State in three sets 25-11, 25-6, 25-6. Against Lyndon State, despite a close score in the first match, UMFK held on and won again in straight sets 25-21, 25-8, and 25-9. The Bengals are still ranked number one in the USCAA standings with a record of 24-5. Next weekend they take on Husson and Maine Maritime Academy in Bangor before they wait for the official announcement of their bid to the USCAA National Championship Tournament.

On Sunday in Presque Isle, the Aroostook County rivalry between UMFK and the University of Maine at Presque Isle was renewed once again. In the Women’s match, the Bengals compiled an incredible 44 total shots, with 30 shots on goal, but were only able to convert on five of them. Veronica Paz and Tolu Oyeniyi scored for the Bengals as the both of them are amongst the leading goal scorers in the USCAA. Caribou natives and Freshmen Hope Shea and Searra Herbert both scored as well in a game a little bit closer to home for them.

The Women’s Soccer team has a record of 8-3-2 and is ranked number one in the USCAA standings. They look to have one of the top seeds in the USCAA National Championship tournament when the bids get announced next week.

In the Men’s soccer match, the Bengals settled upon lucky goal number seven in a 7-0 rout of the Owls. In what was a rough day to play soccer, with 15 mile per hour winds and a temperature hovering just above freezing, the Bengals prevailed and were once again able to keep the Potato Barrel trophy, signifying the winner of the UMPI-UMFK soccer match, safe and secure in Fort Kent. Travar McCollah, Ryan Merckel, Nickolas Gayle, Luke Wentland, Aaron Boateng and Shawn Genus (2) all scored for the Bengals. Shawn Genus remains the leading goal scorer in the USCAA with 18 goals on the season.

The Men’s soccer team is ranked fourth in the standings with a record of 13-5-2 as they await to hear about a potential spot in the USCAA National Championship Tournament next week.