PORTLAND — It’s the game that keeps her going.

Since she was a kid, Elise Applegate has loved the game of soccer. That’s never changed. She was a standout at St. Dom’s and has been trying find her spot in net at the college level.

When the University of Maine opened its soccer season Friday at Deering High School in Portland, Applegate was on the bench as the backup keeper.

“I don’t want to stop playing,” Applegate said. “It’s never been, if I’m on for the game or if I’m starting.  It’s always been about, I love soccer. Every training opportunity and every game opportunity is something I live for. That’s always the motivation. I started this when I was four years old, and I’m not going to stop until they say, ‘You’re done.'”

The Black Bears opened the season with a 1-0 win in overtime over Holy Cross.  Sophomore Lauren Swant was the starter and was solid in net to earn the shutout.

“The strength of our team is our goalkeeping,” UMaine coach Scott Atherley said. “Every day is a different decision because each one of them has a unique quality and strength.”

Applegate is one of two local players on the Maine roster. Former Leavitt standout Bri Hammond, a junior, is currently out of the lineup and working her way back from an injury.

“We’re still waiting on her,” said Atherley. “She’ s still recovering from her third major injury. She’s okay. It’s more just trying to get her confidence back.”

Maine has three goalies on the roster — Applegate, Swant, and freshman Claudia Dube-Trempe.

“All of us are right in there,” said Applegate, a senior. “It will be whoever plays better in practice the day before is the one that will step in the net the next day. It’s always been that way. It’s who’s on the day before. This season is probably my best chance of playing.”

It took Applegate some time to adjust to the college game. She set the record for shutouts in a season at St. Dominic Academy and was an All-Conference player with the Saints.

She had played on a Waterville-based club with current teammate Jordan Pellerin and had considered attending Maine. Atherley told her at the time that goaltending opportunities were limited.

So she opted for the University of Tennessee-Martin. She played three games there and posted a 1.06 goals against average. By midyear, however, she was thinking about coming home and contacted Atherley about opportunities at Maine.

“I missed the atmosphere of the state itself,” said Applegate. “Me and Scott had been in conversation before I went down to Tennessee. I decided it wasn’t the fit. I knew the program here was a strong one, and it had done well in the past. I wanted to be part of it.”

She knew there were no guarantees, but she was willing to work hard enough and see what happened.

“I was going to come and work for whatever spots I got,” said Applegate. “If it was the first string, great. If it was the second string, fine. I came in and I wanted to play and that’s what it comes down to. If I don’t see the field, I see practice time. It’s the sport I love.”

Applegate didn’t play at all in 2011. Last year, she saw time in one game and made two saves as she closed out a 3-1 win over Binghamton.

She’s learned a great deal about the technical aspects of the position, but has also honed her comfort level in the goal.

“The program has done so much for me as  a player,” said Applegate. “The mentality is what it comes down to. It’s always the confidence. Coming in, my nerves were ridiculous. I was constantly nervous. As the years have gone by, it’s no different then practice. If you let one go in, you stop the next one. That’s the mentality.”

Atherley says that one thing Applegate brings to the squad is a great outlook and determination. She’s always striving for her opportunity.

“She’s got a great attitude,” Atherley said. “That’s what we really appreciate about her. She’s got a great attitude, and she works hard. She’s just a really good kid.”

The progress he’s seen in her the last few seasons has been immense, he said. It’s put her in contention to battle for playing time this fall.

“She has improved dramatically,” Atherley said. “I couldn’t be happier with her development. She’s really improved.  She’s just really developed nicely. I’m really happy with her.”

Hammond was an all-state player while at Leavitt, despite a knee injury. She’s still been plagued by injuries. She played in just two games last year and saw action in four the year before, earning one start.

“We’ll wait and see,” said Atherley about Hammond’s return. “She’s such a delightful kid. It’s a day-by-day thing. We’re working with her, and she’ll be involved in some capacity.”

UMaine outshot Holy Cross 15-4 on Friday but couldn’t finish during regulation. Just 26 seconds into overtime, a Black Bear rush led to an Eve L’Abbe goal to net the win.

kmills@sunjournal.com

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