Adam Perron was hired this week to take the women’s soccer program at Southern Maine Community College to the next level.

Perron, a former South Portland High standout, has coached boys’ soccer at South Portland and Deering.

“He’s such a great fit,” said SMCC Athletic Director Matt Richards. “I think Adam is really going to provide the energy and enthusiasm to really go out and make connections with high school coaches. He’ll be a face out there, which is what the program needs to boost numbers. I think it’s the missing link for their success.”

The women’s team finished its fifth season this fall, going 3-6.

The program had its most successful year in 2006, when it went 6-6-2 and competed for a conference championship. It went 2-8 in 2007, 2-7 in 2008 and 4-6-1 in 2009.

“Adam seemed to have the right personality and the right kind of drive to get the program going,” said Richards.

Tom Munroe, the former coach, moved to spend more time cultivating work for his day job as a general contractor.

“He was the first and only coach of the program and we’re very appreciative of the efforts he’s made over the years,” said Richards.

“I think he knew it kind of needed some additional time to get it over the hump.”

Eleven candidates applied for the position.

 

SOUTHERN MAINE CC

Freshman point guards Hanna Lyons of Scarborough and Jim Thyng of Lyman were named the Liberty Mutual December student-athletes of the month.

Both Lyons and Thyng, according to the award, exemplify not only athletic prowess, but effort and excellence in the classroom.

Lyons has stepped into a starting role, and is averaging 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals per game.

Thyng has been a spark off the bench, and is averaging 6.5 points per game while registering three assists and two steals per game.

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE

Rachele Burns, a former Gorham High basketball star, suffered a leg injury Sunday, keeping her out of the women’s basketball lineup during the team’s Florida trip.

Burns’ prognosis is unclear, but according to a team spokesman the injury is not in her right knee or even on the same leg that required three surgeries on her anterior cruciate ligament.

Burns is coming off a freshman season in which she had a third knee surgery after suffering an injury in a preseason intrasquad scrimmage.

In five games she was contributing 3.4 points per game in 14.8 minutes per game, becoming a contributor off the bench.

The team flies home today and Burns will see a team doctor soon.

• Jesse Labreck, a track and field standout from Oakland, was named the America East field performer of the week after winning the high jump and 55-meter hurdles in a dual meet against New Hampshire.

Her leap of 5 feet, 7 inches in the high jump and time of 8.10 seconds in the 55-meter hurdles qualified her for the ECAC championship meet in both events.

SAINT JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference named junior guard Chris Petzy the men’s basketball player of the week.

He averaged 20 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in a 1-1 week for the Monks.

He scored a career-high 31 points in an 84-80 double-overtime victory against Johnson & Wales on Dec. 8, hitting a 3-pointer with seven seconds left in the first overtime.

He’s tied for the team lead in scoring with 17.4 points per game.

The men are on break until a Dec. 30 game at Division I Davidson.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE

The men’s hockey team (4-4-1) will play an exhibition Jan. 1 against the U.S. under-18 team. The teams met last year with USM losing, 5-2.

Forward Zach Joy was named the ECAC men’s East co-player of the Week and freshman goaltender Braely Torris was named to the league’s weekly honor roll.

Joy scored two winning goals last week to help USM win twice and reach .500 (4-4-1) for the first time this season.

• Senior captain Billy Cole was ranked No. 1 by the New England Wrestling Association at 133 pounds.

Cole is 11-2 this season and leads the Huskies with six pins.

BOWDOIN COLLEGE

The national champion field hockey team was featured in an NCAA fall highlight show on CBS last weekend. The broadcast included highlights from the Division III championship match between Bowdoin and Messiah.

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND

Following the holiday break, the men’s basketball team will hold the Jim Beaudry Classic against nationally ranked WPI (No. 22) on Jan. 2.

Game time is 2 p.m.

The game is in honor of Jim Beaudry, the longtime coach and athletic director at St. Francis College, which is now UNE.

Beaudry resides in Biddeford and attends many UNE home events.

 

Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at:

jmenendez@pressherald.com