2024-2025 University Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Month Program
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.
September 2024's UCU Student-Athlete of the Month honors the first of the 2024-25 academic year. With several outstanding performances taking place already in the first month of competition, Huskies' Athletics had a lively debate, and looks forward to continuing this recognition program throughout the year and its valuable partnership with University Credit Union.
A fifth-year senior, Gould has had a remarkable start to her 2024 season, setting three career records in the opening four weeks of the season. In the Huskies' season-opening 10-2 win against Maine Maritime Academy, Gould had three goals and an assist in 55 minutes of playing time. Recording the third hat trick of her career, Gould set the program's all-time record for goals in a career, and points in a career. In the Huskies 3-2 win on the road at Eastern Connecticut, her two goals and an assist were the difference, and her assist against the Warriors established a new all-time women's soccer assist mark in Southern Maine history.
Gould has eight goals and six assists for 22 points through nine games this season, helping the Huskies to a 6-2-1 overall mark and a 2-0 start in the Little East. Through 67 career games, Gould has 51 goals and 23 assists for 125 points.
A three-time All-Little East Conference forward, the 2022 LEC Offensive Player of the Year, and a two-time All-Region selection, Gould has helped the Huskies to back-to-back Little East Conference Championships (2022, 2023). An Academic All-District selection, Gould is a Biology major from Freeport, Maine.
Alex Fournier | Sport Management | Men's Golf
One of seven freshman on the Huskies' 2025 men's golf roster, Fournier has had an outstanding start to his intercollegiate career. Most recently finishing as the Huskies' top golfer at the 2024 Bowdoin College Invitational on September 29, Fournier shot an even par 72 during the second round, including a pair of birdies.
Named the Little East Conference Player and Rookie of the Week on September 9, Fournier earned medalist honors at the 2024 John Queenan Memorial Invitation hosted by Saint Joseph's College, finishing the tournament with a three-over par 75. Fournier hit an even par on 12 holes, and had two birdies. Fournier has finished in the top 10 on four occasions.
A Sport Management major, Alex hails from Augusta, Maine and played his high school golf at Cony.
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 2023-24 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.
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, former Director of Athletics Al Bean partnered with University Credit Union 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.
