Whenever you lose a quality goalie in hockey, it’s a significant loss. When you lose two top-flight goaltenders, it’s even worse because it means the new goalie or goalies are probably going to be inexperienced.

That is the case at the University of Maine where Coach Shawn Walsh is trying to replace Garth Snow and Mike Dunham, who are now with the United States Olympic Team.

After three scrimmages, the Blue-White exhibition game and countless practices, the Bear players who shoot on the new goalies every day in practice have all kinds of faith in junior transfer Peter Nordell, redshirt freshman Blair Marsh, and freshman Blair Allison.

“They’ve been playing really well,” said sophomore left winger and captain Paul Kariya. “People say that’s our question mark, but I don’t think it is. They’re all talented. They’re all coming along.

“Besides, we were a run-and-gun outfit a year ago. We won games we never should have won because of our goaltending,” added Kariya. “We won’t be that way this year. We’re going to play stronger team defense.”

Kariya added that the goalies will also benefit from the coaching at Maine, particularly when Grant Standbrook returns from recruiting.

“All three of them are solid,” said senior right winger Cal Ingraham. “Any of the three could start on Sunday (against the United States Olympic Team).”

“They all look confident,” said veteran left winger Chuck Texeira.

Marsh will start Sunday’s game, according to Maine Coach Shawn Walsh. Marsh spent last season practicing with the team while sitting out a redshirt year.

“I know when I sat out after I transferred (from the Air Force Academy), I learned so much from guys like Jimmy (Montgomery),” said Ingraham. “Blair (Marsh) couldn’t help but learn a lot from Garth and Mike last year. And Coach Standbrook put in a lot of work with the goalies.”

Walsh saw a little too much offense and not enough defense from his defensive corps in the Blue team’s 8-3 win over the White team on Tuesday night.

“The defensemen were taking too many risks offensively,” said Walsh. “We’ve got to really improve in that area.”

“Coach wants us to get involved in the offense, but we have to pick our spots,” said senior defenseman Jason Weinrich. “(Chris) Imes did that to a `T’ last year.”

Weinrich said it will take the young players time to learn the system and how to read the play.

If a defenseman gets involved in a rush, it is up to a forward to fill his spot along the blue line until the defenseman can get back into position.

Three 1-0 wins, including a triumph over the nation’s No. 10-ranked BU Terriers, has given the University of Maine’s field hockey program a big shot in the arm, according to Coach Terri Kix.

“Any time you can win three in a row, especially on the road, it gives you an awful big confidence boost,” said Kix, whose Bears are now 10-2. “We received a solid team effort. We played well as a unit. Everybody has a role (and they performed those roles). Our strength is our unity.”

It also doesn’t hurt to have a 5-foot-3 dynamo in goal named Mary Lou Winstel. Winstel made 19 saves against BU and seven apiece against Holy Cross and Yale.

“She was really spectacular,” said Kix. “She went airborne to make a couple of saves and that gave the team a big lift.”

Kix added that midfielder Michelle Gallan, who got the latter two game-winners, was an inspiration to her mates by coming through despiwinners, was an inspiration to her mates by coming through despite playing on a very sore knee.

“She was really hurting,” said Kix.

Maine hosts another NAC power, Northeastern, at 1 p.m. on Saturday.