ORONO — The University of Maine announced Friday it has extended the contract of Athletic Director Blake James for two years, through June 2012.

The announcement came nearly six months after James was one of the four finalists to become the athletic director at Florida Gulf Coast University in Naples, Fla. That job went to former Bradley University AD Ken Kavanagh.

James, who previously served in administrative positions at Miami (Fla.), Nebraska and Providence, was named Maine's athletic director in May 2006, after serving as interim AD for 10 months.

Under James, the athletic department has built a field hockey complex, and has installed new turf surfaces at Alfond Stadium and Mahaney Diamond. Last spring, when the department was faced with a $871,000 deficit for the current fiscal year, James decided to drop the volleyball and men's soccer programs.

"(James) has done a commendable job under difficult budget circumstances and I appreciate his commitment to UMaine, our athletic department and particularly our student-athletes," university president Robert Kennedy said in a press release.

FIELD HOCKEY

BOSTON UNIVERSITY 5, MAINE 2: Allie Dolce scored a pair of goals and assisted on two others to lead the second-ranked Terriers (9-11) over the third-seeded Black Bears (12-7) in the semifinals of the America East tournament at Albany, N.Y.

The Terriers took control from the start, scoring three goals in the first 15:26. Maine cut the deficit to 3-1 when Courtney Veinotte scored on a penalty corner 3:25 into the second half. Veinotte added another goal with 10 seconds left.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

MAINE 2, PROVIDENCE 2: Lexie Hoffmeyer and Myriam Croussette scored during the shootout to give the Black Bears (2-7-2, 0-3-2-1 Hockey East) an extra point after they played to a tie against the Friars (3-4-4, 2-1-2-1) at Orono.

Maine opened the scoring on a goal by Amy Stech, assisted by Britt Dougherty, with 3:19 left in the first period. The Friars tied it just over three minutes later and took the lead early in the second period.

Maine's Jenna Ouellette scored with 3:50 left in the second period, on an assist from Croussette.

Brittany Ott made 41 saves for the Black Bears and also stopped three of the four shots she faced in the shootout.

CASTLETON STATE 2, SOUTHERN MAINE 1: Mary Anne Diehm scored on a deflection with 1:15 left in regulation to lift the Spartans (1-2, 1-0 ECAC East) over the Huskies (0-1, 0-1) at Gorham.

Castleton broke a scoreless tie 12:30 into the second period, but the Huskies responded less than a minute later when Danielle Ward scored on an assist from Mary Vaughan.

Jackie Zarb finished with 16 saves for the Huskies.