October 2022
Recognizing the outstanding achievements of our University of Southern Maine  student-athletes is something we are proud to do.  Since January of 2022, Huskies' Athletics and University Credit Union have partnered up to highlight the varied and vital contributions USM student-athletes make in competition, in the classroom and in the community.  Whether its big-time performances for their team, or big steps in their academic and career goals, or our student-athletes commitment to Community Service,  USM & UCU are ready to celebrate our Student-Athletes of the Month.
 
Chosen by members of the Athletic Department administration, recipients of this honor successfully embody the Five Pillars of USM Athletics: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
 
October 2022's UCU Student-Athlete of the Month honors a pair of Husky soccer standouts and student-athletes that have etched their names into record books with their outstanding play and leadership.  Huskies' Athletics looks forward to continuing this recognition program throughout the year and its valuable partnership with University Credit Union.
 

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Hayes Estrella | Business | Men's Soccer
One of the Huskies' captain, Hayes Estrella has been an exceptional leader and presence on the pitch at Hannaford Field.  Playing every minute in goal this season for Southern Maine, Estrella's exceptional play and vocal leadership helped created an outstanding culture on the field for Huskies' men's soccer while putting together a season for the record books. 
 
One of the best goalkeepers in the Little East Conference and NCAA Division III soccer, Hayes backstopped the Huskies to 10 shutouts en route to a 6-5-7 season.  Hayes' 10 shutouts tied the program's 43-year-old single season record (set by legendary Steve deBree in the 1979 season). Hayes' outstanding play in net also helped the Huskies to a nine-game unbeaten streak during the season (4-0-5).
 
Leading the LEC in goalie minutes played (1620), save percentage (.833), shutouts (10), total saves (98), Hayes is also second in goals against average (.722), and third in saves per game (5.44).  On the NCAA Division III circuit, Hayes finished 2022 ranked fourth nationally in shutouts, ninth in save percentage, and in the top 40 for goals against average and total saves.
 
Hayes will earn William B. Wise Scholar Athlete honors later this fall, and is pursuing a degree in Business.
 
Ciera Berthiaume | Master's in Leadership Studies | Women's Soccer
 
The all-time leader in goals, assists and points in Huskies' women's soccer history, Ciera Berthiaume recently established another first, becoming the first women's soccer player to reach 100 points in her career.  With 43 goals and 19 assists to her credit, Ciera has 105 career points, and is just three points off of being the all-time leader in points for either then men's or women's soccer programs. 
 
A four-year member of the Huskies' women's soccer team, Berthiaume has been a driving force in the growth in the program helping her team establish single-season wins record – first 14 in 2018, and now 15 in 2022 – and claiming the Huskies' first ever Little East Conference regular season title.  Fourteen of her 43 goals have gone for game-winners. She is a three-time All-Little East Conference forward. 
 
A leader on and off of the field, Berthiaume is a two-year captain, and is a member of the Huskies' Student-Athlete Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Committee (SADIE).  Completing her undergraduate degree in English, and now pursuing her Master's degree in Leadership Studies, Berthiaume will be a four-time William B. Wise Scholar Athlete later this semester.   
 
 

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WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY CREDIT UNION/ATHLETIC DIRECTOR STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH?
 
Throughout each academic year as Huskies' Athletics moves from fall to winter to the spring competition, Southern Maine student-athletes are consistently recognized at the state, conference, regional and national level for their outstanding and noteworthy performances on the field of competition. 
 
Academically, Huskies are also known for their superior performances earning All-Academic team honors from a variety of awards bureaus as well as the University.  During the 2021-22 academic year, USM student-athletes combined for a department grade point average of 3.2. Each year, Husky student-athletes receive recognition for their athletic, academic and community service activities.  Last spring, USM's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was named the University's Student Group of the Year for the fourth time in six years.  And later this fall, Southern Maine Athletics is looking forward to honoring its hundreds of William B. Wise Scholar Athletes. 
 
Proudly supporting and emphasizing the Division III student-athlete model, Huskies' Athletics focuses its goals on five key areas for each of its nearly 450 student-athletes: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
 
Many of USM student-athletes play big roles not only on their teams, but also in life -  as student employees, mentors, student organization leaders, civic rights activists, residence life assistants, and more. With that in mind, Director of Athletics Al Bean and University Credit Union are coming together to create a new way to honor and amplify the remarkable contributions of our student-athletes that go far beyond the stat sheet with the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month recognition.
 
"As a department, Huskies Athletics believes in the development of the overall student-athlete. As soon as they become a Husky, we are investing in their future. The goal for a USM student-athlete is for each and every one to realize their full potential academically, athletically, personally, professional and civically.  Our student-athletes are leaders on and off of the field and in the community.  With the creation of the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month honor, we are seeking to establish a tangible way to congratulate and encourage the work of student-athletes both inside and outside of the competitive arena."
 
The UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month (one male, one female) will be chosen based upon Huskies' Five Key Pillars: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.  Members of the Huskies' Athletic Administration will nominate and choose those student-athletes to be recognized.
 
"We're excited for this new initiative and for the increased opportunities to recognize our tremendous student-athletes," said Bean.  "UCU's partnership further demonstrates their commitment to the overall growth and development of our programs."