University of New England Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame
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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame held its 18th induction ceremony at the Harold Alfond Forum on Friday evening (Sep. 22), formally honoring the 2023 Class of four student-athletes whose graduation years span over 30 years.

The celebration included former student-athletes Jim Candemeres UNE '86 [basketball], Adrienne Chase UNE '15 [softball], Krissy Forman UNE '04 [soccer], and Holly (Smith) Thibaudeau UNE '17 [field hockey].

Now, 67 individuals and seven teams have been inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame, which was established in 2005 to honor the very best in the combined history of St. Francis College, Westbrook College, and UNE.

Candemeres (Flushing, N.Y.) graduated with a bachelor's degree in business in 1986. He played four seasons of men's basketball and men's soccer for the UNE Red Knights between the years 1982 and 1986. In more than 90 career games on the court, Candemeres amassed 1,320 points and 956 rebounds -- totals that stand 12th and 3rd, respectively, among the all-time ranks in the combined history of St. Francis College, Westbrook College, and UNE. As a senior, he was a first team Western Maine Athletic Conference pick, as well as a New England District All-Star. During the 24 games in that 1985-86 campaign, he racked up 511 points and 274 rebounds, and both averages were among the NAIA national leaders. Candemeres also scored 40 points in two separate games that remain in the top 10 single-game efforts for the program. On the soccer field, he was a starting defender all four years.

Chase (Holden, Mass.) completed a bachelor's degree in applied exercise science in 2015. She appeared in 144 games for the Nor'easter softball program from 2012-15, helping the program to a 92-69-1 overall record and 45-25 mark in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action. Chase was a three-time All-CCC selection in three different roles -- first team designated player as a sophomore, second team first base as a junior, and second team outfield as a senior. She also received first team all-region status in 2013 from the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), and third team all-region from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) in 2015. Chase was a model of consistency at the plate, batting between .406 and .420 in each of her final three years, resulting in a career .405 average that ranks sixth on the program list. She also stands sixth in hits (152), third in runs batted in (93), fifth in slugging percentage (.541), and third in doubles (30). In her rookie season of 2012, Chase was a clutch performer as the team swept through four games on the way to the program's first league title since 2000 (and then an NCAA appearance). During the winner's bracket final on the road against the tournament's top seed, she went 3-for-4 at the dish at the bottom of the batting order in an 11-0 victory, and her four RBI remains as the most by a Nor'easter in a CCC postseason contest. Two days later against the same opponent, her two-run single provided a 3-0 lead and UNE held on to win by one and clinch the crown. Chase was a captain as a senior and helped guide the sixth-seeded team into the semifinal round.

Forman (Massapequa, N.Y.), who wrapped up studies on a bachelor's degree in environmental science in 2004, is the second women's soccer player to ever be inducted. She appeared in 70 career games during the 2000-03 seasons and was a two-year captain for the Nor'easters. UNE logged a 26-19-3 record in CCC contests during her time, which included a 10-1-1 ledger and the top seed in 2000, leading to the program's first league title (and then an NCAA appearance). Forman made a mark right from the start with a rookie campaign featuring the third-most prolific offensive numbers in school history. Over 20 games, she paced the squad by amassing 18 goals and 13 assists for 49 points -- the assist total is the most by a first-year player, and second-best in season records. During the three-game championship run, Forman factored in eight of the team's 10 goals, including two assists in the 3-1 semifinal win and both assists in the 2-0 victory in the final. In the opening round, she recorded UNE's only CCC postseason hat trick, and her seven points remain two clear of the next best game performance. For her efforts, Forman landed first team all-conference honors in 2000. She still stands as the only Nor'easter in 23 years of CCC membership to collect four All-CCC nods, and three of those were of first team status. Forman's career wound up with 43 goals (0.61/game) and 107 points (1.53/game), each maintaining second place in the program ranks; her 21 assists total is holding third.

Thibaudeau (Peabody, Mass.), formerly Smith, graduated with a bachelor's degree in health, wellness, and occupational studies in 2017. From 2013-16, she was the goalkeeper for the Nor'easter field hockey team, starting/playing in all but two rookie-season matches and backstopping the program to a 71-22 record when she was between the posts. Thibaudeau capped her career with a second team National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America nod, which was preceded by a first team all-region pick and first team All-CCC recognition, along with the 2016 CCC Defensive Player of the Year award. That senior season, which finished at 20-4, was powered by a 0.86 goals against average (school record), an .840 save percentage, and seven clean sheets. Overall, she ranks second all-time in NCAA Division III history with those 71 victories, while holding the program marks for goals against average (1.30) and shutouts (25). Thibaudeau's first season also set the standards for shutouts (8) and consecutive shutout minutes (372:37), which was a seven-game stretch highlighted by the program's first-ever triumph over a nationally-ranked foe. She wound up as a four-time All-CCC selection, including three on the first team, and received the 2013 CCC Rookie of the Year distinction. UNE claimed regular-season titles every year with Thibaudeau, going 46-2 against league competition, and won the 2014, 2015, and 2016 CCC tournament crowns. In 2013, after dropping the conference final, the Nor'easters captured the ECAC New England Championship, for which Thibaudeau was named the Most Outstanding Player. On the heels of each CCC victory, the team chalked up wins to open NCAA Championship play and reached the second round; it was a first for the program in 2014. The two-year team captain went 12-4 during all postseason outings, with five of her shutouts (and one shared). In 2016, UNE achieved the national ranking of No.19 in the last NFHCA poll of the year.