GORHAM, Maine -- For the third straight year, senior midfielder Steve Gilbert (Litchfield, Maine/Oak Hill) has been named captain for the University of Southern Maine men's lacrosse team.  Second-year head coach Sam Manders made the announcement recently.
            Gilbert and his teammates will get their 2021 spring season underway this Wednesday (March 17) when they travel to Saint Joseph's College of Maine.
            "Steve is our physical and emotional leader.  He commands respect from his peers and pushes them to be the best they can be," commented Manders.  "He plays from end line to end line and strives to be the best player no matter the position.  He has his finger on the team's pulse and is always looking for ways to make the program better.  His legacy will be cemented in this program for years to come."
            Gilbert appeared in all three games during the Huskies' Covid-19 shortened 2020 spring season tallying two goals and three assists for five points, and also scooped up 11 ground balls.
            In the 2019 season, playing primarily on defense, Gilbert started all 14 games tallying three goals and dishing out two assists for five points.  He also scooped up 57 ground balls and was credited with 16 caused turnovers.  During his rookie season (2018), Gilbert had 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 16 games.
            Over three seasons with the Huskies, Gilbert has appeared in 33 games scoring 17 goals and passing off 17 assists.  He was named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week on April 2, 2018.
            A two-time recipient of the USM Athletic Department's William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete Award, Gilbert is majoring in sports management with a minor in athletic coaching.  He is also serving this year as the Vice-President of the Huskies' Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).