Shawn Wansborough compared it to “driving a long distance really late at night. I was run down. I’d feel like I was going to faint in practice.”

The University of Maine’s junior right wing has been afflicted by a virus containing symptoms similar to that of mononucleosis. The virus was one of the major reasons Wansborough, Maine’s leading goal scorer a year ago, had just one goal through his first seven games.

It also limited his ice time.

But he started feeling better last week and responded with three goals and two assists in the two weekend losses at New Hampshire.

He is hoping his improved health and increased production can help lead Maine to a pair of Hockey East wins over UMass-Lowell at the Alfond Arena this weekend.

“I feel like I’m coming out of it. I felt better last weekend,” said Wansborough. “I’m doing what I have to do to control it, getting a lot of sleep and drinking a lot of fluids. I’m just going to keep handling it the way I have.”

Wansborough is Maine’s leading scorer with four goals and seven assists and said the Bears, off to their worst start in their 13-year Hockey East existence at 0-3-1, will be searching for a “happy medium” this weekend.

“We’ve played so many different ways so far,” said Wansborough who will be the right wing on a potentially high-powered line with Steve Kariya and Scott Parmentier. “Some games, we’ve played great defense but haven’t put the puck in the net. Other games, we’ve let a lot of pucks in. We know we can score goals and we know we can play well defensively.

“We’ve just got to bear down and keep a positive attitude,” added Wansborough, a 27-goal scorer last season.

Maine’s Reg Cardinal will miss Friday’s game with the flu and he could also be out Saturday.

College hockey

MAINE vs. UMASS-LOWELL

Time, site: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 4-4-1 (0-3-1 Hockey East); UML 5-3 (3-3 HE)

Series: Maine leads 31-19-1

Key players: Maine – RW Shawn Wansborough (4 goals, 7 assists), C Steve Kariya (5 & 4), C-LW Cory Larose (2 & 7), C Dan Shermerhorn (4 & 4), D Jason Mansoff (4 & 4), RW Bobby Stewart (3 & 4), G Alfie Michaud (4-4-1 record, 3.44 goals-against average, .848 save percentage); UMass-Lowell – C Neil Donovan (4 & 9), LW Marc Salsman (6 & 3), C Greg Koehler (3 & 6), LW Ryan Sandholm (2 & 6), D Chris Libett (2 & 5), D Mike Nicholishen (2 & 4), G Martin Fillion (2-1, 3.01, .907)

Outlook: Maine should be bolstered by the return of LW Scott Parmentier, C Jason Vitorino, and D Jason Mansoff. And the Bears will be without LW Reg Cardinal (flu) and C Nils Satterstrom (infected elbow). In its three Hockey East series, UML has won the Friday game and lost the Saturday game. These teams are two of the biggest surprises in the league so far as Maine is off to its worst start in league history and UML has gone 3-3 despite being picked to finish last in the coaches’ preseason poll. Maine and UML are ranked one-two in Hockey East in power play and penalty-killing.

Maine is tops in power play and UML is the leader in penalty-killing. UML could have as many as 13 freshmen and sophomores in its lineup and Maine could have as many as 12.