Being named captain is the ultimate sign of respect from teammates in any college sport. When those colleagues decide to iron that telltale ‘C’ underneath your collar or on your sleeve before your senior season, that honor is magnified.

She’s only a junior, but Samantha Johnson of Mexico is one of three players chosen to set the standard for the University of Southern Maine field hockey team this fall.

Johnson, a graduate of Mountain Valley High School, was the primary returning offensive threat on a USM squad admittedly starved for upper class leadership. Fellow tri-captain Caterina Riitano of Sangerville is the only senior on the Huskies’ roster.

“Sam expects to be performing at the highest level for us at all times, and she does that by out-working everyone on the field,” ninth-year USM head coach Bonny Brown-Denico said in a preseason press release.

“She expects the same type of effort from her teammates and is a very positive and vocal leader.”

Three goals in 20 starts as a sophomore hinted at Johnson’s potential as a scorer in the midfield. She is still seeking her first goal and assist of this season for the Huskies, who have struggled out of the gate to an 0-4 start.

Sophomore Brianna Thompson of Harrison and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School is also seeing time up front and in the midfield for the Huskies.

No experience necessary

It didn’t take long for two of last year’s leading female high school athletes from the tri-county region to make their impact at the next level.

Taryn Flagg of Livermore Falls has sparked two straight victories by the University of New England field hockey team. Flagg scored both second-half goals to rally the Nor’easters past Southern Maine, 2-1. Against Saint Joseph’s, Flagg put the Biddeford school on the board with a penalty stroke in the first half, providing the springboard to a 2-0 triumph.

Lewiston’s Laura Martel delivered her first two collegiate goals in the University of Maine’s 5-1 women’s soccer victory over Holy Cross last Saturday. Those two strikes left Martel tied for second on the team in that category.

On the flip side, Maine also benefits from the senior presence of a local player. McKayla Bell of Waterford (Oxford Hills) has joined Martel by appearing in all five games for the undefeated Black Bears.

Patriots reunited

Two former Gray-New Gloucester High School teammates played a pivotal role over the weekend for the UNE women’s soccer team. Junior goaltender Mallory Wilson made nine saves to protect a 1-0 shutout victory over Mount Ida on Monday. Two days earlier, midfielder Cait Mason notched the only assist for the Nor’easters in their 2-1 loss to Anna Maria.

Those two aren’t the lone local presence in the starting lineup. St. Dominic Regional High School graduates Lindsey Rowbotham of Minot and Rachel Nadeau of Auburn are in the midfield rotation, while Danielle Farrar of West Paris (Oxford Hills) and Angela Brown of Rumford (Mountain Valley) anchor the defense. Freshman Ashley Pepin of Auburn (Edward Little) is on the team, as well.

Also at UNE, senior cross country runner Katie Wells of Chesterville (Mt. Blue) finished sixth among the women in Saturday’s UNE Invitational, completing the 5,000-meter course in 22:15.

Down on the farm

Elyse Cole of Winthrop enjoyed a productive start to her sophomore season with the University of Maine at Farmington field hockey team. Cole scored the Beavers’ insurance goal in a 3-1 victory at St. Joe’s on Saturday. Cole is complemented by sophomore fullback Ashley Weeks of Farmington and freshman forward Alyssa St. Pierre of Jay on the UMF roster.

Another sophomore, striker Danielle Glover of Carthage, scored twice for the UMF women’s soccer squad in 10-0 rout of the University of Maine at Machias. Mt. Vernon’s Jackie Mrazik (Maranacook) also got in on the scoring frenzy.

Farmington’s sporting success in the fall won’t be limited to the great outdoors. Senior setter Jenna St. Pierre of Peru racked up 39 assists Saturday as the Beavers bagged a pair of victories in the Colby College Invitational women’s volleyball tournament.

Pulling rank

Bates College is ranked No. 10 in the current Division III women’s soccer poll released by D3kicks.com, an upstart Web site devoted to small-college soccer.

The Bobcats backed up those high expectations Tuesday with a 1-0 road victory at Husson. Cumberland’s Kim Alexander delivered the goal for Bates.