Taryn Flagg needed only one season to become one of the prolific players in the brief history of the University of New England field hockey program.

The first-year standout from Livermore Falls completed a record-shattering season at the Biddeford school this week. UNE dropped a 5-4, double-overtime decision to Salve Regina in the quarterfinals of the Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament, but not before Flagg established new school marks for most goals and points in a season.

Flagg scored a goal in each half for the Nor’Easters, finishing her freshman campaign with 12 goals and 5 assists 9 points. Those numbers already fly Flagg third in both career categories for UNE, which launched field hockey In 2003.

It was not Flagg’s first multi-goal performance of the fall. She racked up two goals and two assists in a 14-0 rout of Wheelock on Sept. 26. Flagg also rattled the cage twice in triumphs over Lasell and Southern Maine and recorded a goal and two assists in a shutout of Anna Maria.

Another local player shared in the seven-win season for the Nor’easters. Nicole Mace of Readfield (Maranacook) finished with three goals and three assists for nine points, good for fourth on the squad.

Maine hoop powers rated highly again

With another calendar page tossed away Wednesday, many eyes have turned to winter sports. And if the Women’s Division III News preseason poll turns out to be prophecy, it should be another fun and productive winter for Maine’s three most prominent small-college women’s basketball programs.

According to that forecast, No. 2 Southern Maine, No. 7 Bowdoin and No. 11 Bates all are regarded among the top teams in the country again this season. That’s out of more than 400 NCAA Division III schools with a women’s hoop team.

Only Scranton is rated ahead of USM, which finished as national runner-up for the third time since 1999 by falling in the final to Hope College of Michigan last March.

Women’s Division III News named Huskies senior forward Ashley Marble its preseason player of the year.

“I am honored and a bit shocked by the selection,” Marble said in a statement released by the school. She averaged 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game last season while sinking 54 percent of her field goal attempts.

Marble is one of three area players named to the preseason All-America team. Eileen Flaherty of Bowdoin and Meg Coffin of Bates are the others.

Bates’ optimism was tempered dramatically when Coffin, also a soccer All-American, hurt her knee in October. The injury may require season-ending surgery, although Bates sports information director Andy Walter said Saturday that Coffin has considered wearing a brace that might allow her to play.

Fall ball wraps up

Central Maine Community College was showered with a mix of fall and winter sports awards last week.

Matt Brennan of Readfield (Maranacook) and Nicole Lovejoy of Poland were named to the Yankee Conference all-star team in baseball and softball, respectively. The league plays a fall schedule in both sports. Additionally, Brennan and Lovejoy both finished second in player of the year voting.

Men’s basketball christened the 2006-07 campaign by winning the Can-Am Tournament title in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Kaleb Violette of Readfield (Maranacook), Jon Gilson of Casco (Lake Region) and Dave Labonte of Lewiston were named to the All-Tournament team, with Violette reaping MVP honors.

CMCC hosts its home opener Thursday night against Johnson State College. The women’s and men’s doubleheader begins at 6 p.m.

Maine women one win away from league title

Last weekend brought more good news for Laura Martel and the University of Maine women’s soccer team.

Martel, a Lewiston High School graduate, was named to the America East all-rookie team. The freshman scored three goals and one assist, including game-winning goals against New Hampshire and Holy Cross.

Maine also earned its fourth straight journey to the conference championship game, ousting Boston University on penalty kicks after a scoreless semifinal. The Black Bears (14-3-2) will attempt to extend their school record for victories in a single season in Saturday’s league final at Hartford.

Beavers run away with several awards

The University of Maine at Farmington walked away from the North Atlantic Conference championship meet with the league’s top two individual honors and a slew of local all-conference selections.

Drew Croteau of Durham, Conn., and Emily Farley of Mount Desert Island were named men’s and women’s runners of the year for winning the NAC event.

Lyn Plog of Avon, Teri Slawek of Peru and Emily Weston of Rumford earned places on the All-NAC women’s second team.