Chris Vashon will undoubtedly be hitting the men's league circuits soon.

A three-sport athlete at Thomas College, the Augusta native has one semester left at the Waterville school. He'll use it to complete his degree in business management and play one more season of soccer.

Vashon just completed his fourth year of varsity lacrosse and during the winter plays club hockey. He played the same three sports at Cony High School and didn't want to give any of them up in college.

"I hate going to the gym all the time, and it helps keep me out of trouble," Vashon said. "I think it's pretty important."

Vashon spent a semester at the University of Maine in Orono where he didn't play any sports and quickly found he missed them.

"I didn't have that much fun there," he said. "It helps with my physical release."

Vashon didn't compile any gaudy offensive statistics in any of the three sports, but he's the type of player every team needs. At 6-feet and a solid 200 pounds, he brings a physical presence to the ice or the playing field.

"He's always been a big, physical type player," Thomas lacrosse coach Tom Sheridan said. "He enjoys the physical game."

A midfielder on Sheridan's team, Vashon did contribute four goals and nine assists while helping the young program to its first winning season.

"He's one of those guys who just wants to go for the W," Sheridan said. "The only way you know he's out there is when he starts hitting people on ground balls."

Soccer coach Ed Thomas used Vashon primarily on defense and appreciated his physical attitude as well.

"I would usually stand him up against their top striker," Thomas said. "He provided a physical presence that was unlike anyone else on the team. (Opponents) were always leery of wherever Chris was."

Vashon plays forward in hockey, just as he did in high school, but as in soccer and lacrosse considers himself a defensive player first.

"I was never all that good with the puck," he said. "I was always better at defending."

Both coaches emphasized Vashon plays hard but cleanly.

"He's very quiet," Thomas said. "He led through his actions rather than words."

Vashon will spend the summer working but is also looking for a lacrosse league in which to play. He'll get back on the field at Thomas this fall for one last time.

"I've learned it was probably the best fit for me," he said of the school. "You get more attention from professors. I think you know who you need to ask for help. And it's easier to make friends."

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com