Tracking the Bears

• The Coast Guard Academy men's soccer team tied the record for the best start in program history with a 2-1 win over New York Maritime, 2-1, on Monday. The Bears improved to 6-0, overcoming a 1-0 deficit on goals by Luke Telang and Alex Lane. The 1986 and 1995 teams also opened 6-0, finishing 9-3-1 and 15-3-1, respectively.

They've won every game by one goal, with seven different players scoring to lead a balanced attack. Senior Richie Burns has been a stonewall in goal, owning stingy goals against average of 0.87 and three shutouts heading into Monday's action. He needs just four shutouts to tie the program's all-time mark of 23 held by Jim Wimberley (1998-2000).

• The women's soccer team also is fast out of the gate at 3-1-1. If they beat Mass. Maritime on Wednesday, the Bears will post the best start in the program's history. The 2000 team opened up at 4-2. Junior Caroline Eastman has a team-high three goals while senior Lindsey Duplessis has a goal and three assists. Goalie Holly Moore (0.79 goals against average) has earned three shutouts.

• Junior Ashley Dumont and sophomore Susan West are powering the volleyball team, racking up 77 kills apiece. The Bears knocked off Merchant Marine, 3-2, on Saturday to improve to 6-2 overall. Michelle McGill has a team-best 126 digs and fellow freshman Michelle Hernandez leads the way with 15 aces.

In their New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference opener tonight, the Bears host defending champion Springfield.

Camel highlights

• Senior Astrid Kempainen, whose two goals and an assist helped fuel the women's soccer team's 3-0 upset of No. 24 Middlebury on Saturday, was named New England Small College Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors.

It was the second time in three years that Conn shocked a ranked Middlebury team. Kempainen had the game-winning goal in that 2012 game.

"When you are playing a team that went to the NCAA Final Four last year it's a different mood going into the game," Kempainen said in a released statement. "We knew we were capable of it so we went as hard as we could and we knew we could win. ... It feels incredible!"

Kempainen has a team-best 10 points on three goals and four assists for the Camels (3-0), who are to their best start since the conference adopted formal standings in 2000.

• Sophomore Ryley van der Velde leads the NESCAC with 8.25 saves per game for the field hockey team. Rookie midfielder Berklee Vaillancourt scored two goals last week for the Camels (2-2, 0-2).

• Junior outside hitter Caroline Martin had 46 kills and 49 digs for the volleyball team at the MIT Invitational last week. The Camels went 1-3 to fall to 1-5 overall.

Mariners riding a wave

• Mitchell College's Samantha Ryan, a sophomore from Waterford, was named New England Collegiate Conference women's tennis Player of the Week for the first time in her career. She helped the Mariners (1-1) score their first victory since 2012 by winning at No. 2 singles and at No. 1 doubles, combining with Laura Simmons in an 8-1 win over Albertus Magnus College.

Around the region

• Francis Shields, a sophomore from East Lyme, is competing for the St. Lawrence University golf team. As of last week, he was tied for eighth in the rankings on the school's 14-player team. He shot a 13-over 157 (77-80) to finish tied for 23rd overall at the St. Lawrence Invitational, helping his team win the 36-hole event.

Both his father Fran, an All-American lacrosse player, and grandfather Frank, a former standout quarterback, are members of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.

• Senior Hannah Benoit, a St. Bernard graduate, won her No. 3 singles match in straight sets in the St. Michael's women's tennis team's 7-2 win over American International College last weekend. It was the 41st win of her career, tying her for fourth place on the program's all-time list.

• For the second time this season, Hartford senior Chanel Johnson of New London was named America East Player of the Week in women's soccer. She had three goals and an assist in two games.

Johnson scored had an assist and game-tying goal in a 2-2 tie with Wagner and then added two goals in a 5-1 win over Iona. It was the second multi-goal game of her career. She has a team-high five goals and an assist in seven games for the Hawks (3-1-3).

Melina Spanos, a freshman from Waterford, has appeared in seven games, starting three.

• UConn's Danielle Gottwik was named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week in women's soccer after scoring two goals and adding two assists in a 4-1 win over St. John's on Friday. Sophomore Rachel Hill made the weekly honor roll for the fourth straight time.

• Sophomore defender Emily Hamilton had her first assist in the Trinity College women's soccer team's 4-0 shutout of Manhattanville College last week. A Williams School graduate, she has appeared in all four games.

Junior Kelsey Thomas of Stonington has a goal and an assist.

g.keefe@theday.com