After a lifetime as a prolific scorer on the soccer field, including a freshman year in which she scored four goals for Chestnut Hill College, Amanda Favreau is making headlines for her defensive work these days.

Favreau, a Sabattus native and graduate of Oak Hill High School, still sees her share of time on the front line for the NCAA Division III program in Philadelphia. This fall, however, Favreau is increasingly the center of attention in the midfield or as the Griffins’ defensive stopper.

Her most smothering performance of the season came last week. Favreau limited the league’s leading scorer, Alexandra Hays of Philadelphia Biblical University, to one shot on goal in a battle between the top two teams in the North Eastern Athletic Conference. Hays entered the game with eight goals on the season, but Favreau and Chestnut Hill kept her completely under wraps in a 1-0 victory.

Chestnut Hill couldn’t carry that emotion through the weekend, dropping a 2-1 overtime decision to Keuka College. The Griffins remain in a virtual tie for the top spot in the NEAC, though, boasting an overall 6-2-2 mark and a 4-1-1 league resume after an 11-7 campaign in 2005.

Favreau’s offensive exploits contributed to a pair of early-season wins. She scored the first goal of the game off a corner kick in a 2-1 triumph over Cazenovia on Sept. 16. The next day, Favreau notched an assist in a 3-1 victory over D’Youville.

She is one of two Maine players anchoring the Chestnut Hill defense. Rebecca Howell of Topsham (Mt. Ararat) also is on the roster.

Bower power

The transition from high school tailback to college fullback hasn’t slowed down Jim Bower, or limited his carries, for that matter.

Bower, a freshman from South Paris and three-year starter at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, has scored a touchdown in three of Maine Maritime Academy’s first four games. The Mariners evened their record at 2-2 with a 14-11 victory over Westfield State on Saturday.

In addition to rushing for the second touchdown in that game, Bower hit the century mark for the first time since high school. Bower carried 19 times for 100 yards.

He also reached in the end zone in a win over Becker and rushed 17 times for 62 yards, including a 6-yard score, in a 28-26 loss to Western New England College.

Bower is one of a whopping 14 local players on the Maine Maritime roster. Two have made a major impact on defense,

Nate Bolduc of Farmington (Mt. Blue) returned a fumble for the opening touchdown in the 33-14 romp over Becker. Rob Leighton of Auburn (Edward Little) had a hand in six tackles in that season-opening contest.

In a 28-21 home defeat against Bridgewater State, Bolduc tied for tops on the team with 7 tackles.

Triple trouble

Three local football standouts, including two players with strong ties to the championship tradition at Lisbon High School, have Husson College of Bangor off to a 3-2 start.

Jeremy Shorey, now 25 and a former minor league pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers system, has turned back the clock nine years and returned to his roots as a wide receiver. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Shorey has caught six passes for 57 yards and a team-leading two touchdowns. Shorey started at flanker on Lisbon’s Class C championship team in 1997 before playing two years at quarterback and then embarking on his baseball journey.

Another former Greyhounds QB, Jon Tefft, is making life miserable for opposing passers these days. Tefft leads the Eagles’ secondary with three interceptions.

Senior QB David Chase of Sabattus (Oak Hill) is completing just under 50 percent of his passes and has tossed six touchdowns.

Husson posted consecutive wins over Utica, Norwich and Hartwick after an opening loss to Mount Ida. The Eagles host Springfield College on Saturday.

Sophomore smash

Chelsie O’Connell recently kicked off her second season of women’s tennis competition at Johnson State (Vt.) College by winning North Atlantic Conference Player of the Week honors.

O’ Connell, who graduated from Mountain Valley High School and has family ties in both Rumford and Lewiston, defeated Erin Kennedy of Green Mountain College, 7-6, 6-1, to win her first singles match of the season. The same day, she teamed with Patty Quick for a 9-7 doubles win to help protect the Badgers’ 6-3 overall victory.

The team captain also joined Nicole Hamilton for a doubles victory against Mitchell College.

Dry-land training

Farmington’s Joe Fowler is preparing for his junior swimming season at Wheaton College with a different sort of endurance workout. Fowler has joined the Lyons’ cross country team.

Fowler is best known at Wheaton for his exploits in the pool, where he holds school records in the 400-meter individual medley and as part of the 800-meter freestyle relay team.