UMaine soccer wants its sputtering offense to provide
The College of Maine soccer staff’s offensive efficiency towards the College of Rhode Island in Friday night time’s 34-17 loss once more left lots to be desired.
After a game-opening, 12-play, 75-yard drive produced a 2-yard Tristen Kenan landing run, the Black Bears mustered simply 10 factors the remainder of the way in which, together with a second-half displaying through which they had been held scoreless and managed simply 57 complete yards and 5 first downs.
4 of these first downs got here on their final drive of the sport, a drive that was thwarted by an interception.
The Black Bears have now scored simply 36 factors of their first three video games, and their 12 factors per recreation common is tied for 106th fewest amongst 122 Soccer Championship Subdivision faculties. Their third-down conversion price of 28.95 p.c ties them for 96th.
UMaine has scored solely 13 factors within the second half of its three video games.
Nevertheless, the three losses have come to a pair of nationally ranked Soccer Championship Subdivision faculties, North Dakota State (2nd) and Rhode Island (seventeenth in a single ballot, 18th within the different), and a Soccer Bowl Subdivision staff in Florida Worldwide that earned a street win towards a College of Connecticut staff that went to a bowl recreation final season.
Soccer Bowl Subdivision groups have 22 extra scholarships and extra assets than Soccer Championship Subdivision faculties.
“Our offense has been sturdy in bursts,” mentioned UMaine head soccer coach Jordan Stevens throughout Monday’s weekly Coastal Athletic Affiliation media convention name. “However we now have to search out methods to get the ball within the palms of our playmakers, guys who could make defenders miss in house and create their very own performs.”
Stevens did credit score the operating again group, Tristen Kenan and John Homosexual, with doing an important job.
“And we had been capable of shield [quarterback Derek Robertson] higher this week. As a staff, significantly on offense, there are elementary issues we now have to proceed to work on and do a greater job at. There are some easy operating performs that we now have to execute higher,” he added.
Kenan and Homosexual are averaging an admirable 4.9 yards per carry. True freshman Kenan has carried the ball 56 occasions for 243 yards and three touchdowns whereas graduate pupil Homosexual has gained 139 yards on 22 carries and one TD.
Kenan ran for 82 yards on 18 carries towards Rhode Island.
UMaine has been outscored 55-19 within the second and third quarters and that pattern is being addressed.
“We’ve to play higher within the center a part of the sport so we put ourselves in place to win on the finish,” Stevens mentioned.
Robertson has accomplished a decent 58.25 p.c of his passes (60-for-103) for 517 yards however has been intercepted 4 occasions and has but to throw a TD go.
Lafayette College switch broad receiver Joe Gillette was one of many offensive shiny spots towards URI with six catches for 42 yards.
“Joe has been an important addition to this staff. He’s a hard-working younger man who does all the appropriate issues. He suffered a quad damage on the finish of (coaching) camp however now you’re seeing him at his greatest and he’ll proceed to get higher as he integrates extra into the offense and will get extra reps,” Stevens mentioned.
The UMaine coach was moderately happy with the protection, though URI went 13-for-18 in third down conversions.
“We couldn’t get off the sector,” Stevens lamented. “Rhode Island is a superb third down staff. However there have been lots of good issues to drag from our protection.”
A pair of sophomores and first-year starters, linebacker Darius McKenzie and finish Xavier Holmes, had game-highs in tackles (11) and tackles for misplaced yards (3), respectively.
“I’m excited in regards to the progress they’ve made they usually would be the leaders of our protection for years to come back,” Stevens mentioned.
The Black Bears will tackle their third ranked Soccer Championship Subdivision opponent on Saturday once they go to No. 5 William and Mary, which is 3-0 and the preseason favourite within the convention coaches ballot. William and Mary shared the convention title with New Hampshire final season.
“They’re an excellent soccer staff. They are going to be an enormous problem for us. They’re an enormous bodily staff in all three phases. They’ve an important quarterback group and operating again group and their protection may be very sound and performs with lots of ardour,” Stevens mentioned. “They’ve held groups to 12.9 p.c (success) on third down and that’s unprecedented.”
Led by reigning nationwide Soccer Championship Subdivision defensive participant of the week, finish Nate Lynn, William and Mary‘s protection leads the 122 subdivision faculties in opponentts’ third down conversion price and yards allowed per recreation (187.7). It’s fifth stingiest in factors allowed (12.33).
William and Mary head coach Mike London mentioned his staff is not going to be taking the Black Bears flippantly.
“You have a look at the groups they’ve performed and you’ve got one of many high packages within the FCS in North Dakota State (9 nationwide titles the final 12 years), one other nationally ranked staff in Rhode Island and an FBS faculty. So you possibly can’t put an entire lot of credence of their document. Enjoying these groups make them harder and extra resilient,” London mentioned. “They’ve a very good quarterback and a very good operating again (Kenan) and their entrance seven (on protection) get after it.”
Stevens isn’t dwelling on the staff’s robust schedule and 0-3 begin.
“We’ve to enhance every day. We’ve to point out development and study from our errors,” Stevens mentioned. “I’m enthusiastic about what’s to come back for this staff as a result of we now have an important tradition and I do know we’re sturdy and capable of tackle no matter comes subsequent.”
