Camel watch

• The Connecticut College men's soccer team is aiming to qualify for the New England Small College Athletic Conference tournament for the fourth straight year. The Camels are off to a fast start in nonconference play, winning their first two games.

They're riding the inspired play of Matthew Bitchell and Pat Devlin, who each have two goals and an assist. Devlin was an all-conference pick last season. Senior captains Lucas Corrubia and Zachary Punt are providing valuable leadership.

They open NESCAC play by hosting Middlebury on Saturday.

• A high-scoring attack has propelled the women's soccer team to its best start since 2008. The Camels scored nine goals in two victories last weekend, beating Johnson & Wales, 6-1, Saturday and Albertus Magnus, 3-1, Friday. Alex Tribelli scored two goals.

"We are happy with the start, but not satisfied," coach Norm Riker said in a released statement.

Conn opens the NESCAC season on Saturday at home against Middlebury.

• First-year field hockey coach Chrissy Needham earned her first win with a 2-1 victory over Babson College Saturday. The Camels are 1-1.

• Right side hitter Sam Hunter contributed 15 kills, two blocks and a service ace in her collegiate debut for the volleyball team on Saturday. Conn lost to Wheaton, 3-1, and Keene State College, 3-0.

Mariner highlights

• Mitchell College senior goalie Ramazan Sinani was named New England Collegiate Conference Player of the Week after leading the men's soccer team to a 1-1 record.

He posted his eightth career shutout on Saturday against Mount Saint Vincent, stopping five shots in a 1-0 victory. It's his third conference player of the week award in his career.

Tracking the Bears

• Coast Guard Academy won its season opener in men's tennis, beating Division I Holy Cross, 6-1, on Monday. Freshmen Michael Melampy, John Hu and Benson Errington all scored singles victories in straight sets in their debuts.

Juniors Mark Guentert and Weston Fortna, an all-conference doubles duo, won at both singles and doubles.

Around the region

• UConn senior Deshon Foxx was named American Athletic Conference Specials Teams Player of the Week for his contribution in a 19-16 victory over Stony Brook on Saturday. He returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown and finished with three punt returns for 85 yards.

Senior wide receiver Geremy Davis made the conference honor roll after catching six passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.

• Junior Kelsey Thomas, a three-time all-state selection out of Stonington, has a goal and an assist in two games for the Trinity College women's soccer team. She scored in a 5-0 rout of St. Joseph on Wednesday. She is a two-year starter.

Sophomore defender Emily Hamilton, a Williams School graduate, has appeared in two games.

• Waterford graduate Jaclyn Greenman has started 19 games since joining the Rhode Island College women's soccer team last year. The Anchorwomen are 1-1.

• Junior goalie Rachel Skelton (East Lyme), senior midfielder Rachael Skinner (Montville) and senior back Taylor Shannon (Waterford) are key contributors for the Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team. Skelton is 1-1 with a 0.40 goals against average in three starts and owns four shutouts in 11 career starts overall.

• Norwich native Bethany Brown will be inducted into the Plymouth State Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 25. A four-time Little East Conference first team all-star, she ranks second on the women's lacrosse program's all-time scoring list with 198 goals and 253 points. She helped lead the Panthers to three conference titles and four post-season trips. A Norwich Free Academy graduate, she was the conference rookie of the year in 2003.

• Junior midfielder Gavin Neuendorf, an NFA graduate, is one of three ECSU men's soccer players with a goal this season. He has started all three games.

• Senior John Trudel of Niantic is the starting quarterback for the Massachusetts Maritime football team. The Ledyard graduate is one of the senior captains.

Last season Trudel accoutnted for 17 touchdowns - 10 passing, seven rushing - on 97 total plays and piled up 378 yards of total offense. He was named to the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference all-star team as a punter, averaging 39.7 yards per kick.

East Lyme graduate Jacob Knopf, a freshman, is listed second on the depth chart at offensive right guard for the season opener Thursday SUNY-Maritime.

• Freshman midfielder Aaron Schwartz, The Day's 2013 boys' soccer player of the year, has started the first three games for Sacred Heart University. He earned All-New England honors for Waterford as a senior.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe