MAINE vs. BROWN

Time, site: Saturday, 3 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 1-3, Brown 3-1

Series/last meeting: Brown leads 2-0, Brown won 7-0 on 2/19/99

Key players: Brown – F Jill Graat (3 goals, 2 assists), F Patricia Long (3 & 0), F Christina Sorbara (1 & 2), F Jordan Jiskra (0 & 3), D Tamra Jones (0 & 2), G Ali Brewer (1.71 goals-against average, .939 save percentage, 3-1); Maine – F Kira Misikowetz ( 2 & 4), F Andrea Keller (3 & 2), F Raffi Wolf (2 & 3), D Kelly Nelson (1 & 1) G Amanda Cronin (3.00 GAA, .902, 1-2)

Outlook: UMaine absorbed two of its worst losses last season, its first in Division I, when it fell 10-0 and 7-0 to hockey power Brown. The nightmarish series will be on the Bears’ minds Saturday. Maine is a year wiser, a lot stronger and a deeper team. But Brown is still formidable. UMaine coach Rick Filighera wants his team to play with intensity the entire 60 minutes as it focuses on securing one of eight playoff spots. Since UMaine top scorer Misikowetz joined Keller and Wolf, that line is clicking as well as any in the league. UMaine’s other lines produced more scoring chances in UMaine’s 4-1 win over Yale. That must continue.

MAINE vs. HARVARD

Time, site: Sunday, 3 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Record: Harvard 1-1

Series/last meeting: Harvard leads 2-0; Harvard won 6-2 1/3/99

Key players: Harvard – LW Tammy Schewchuk (9 & 6), C Jennifer Botterill (4 & 8), RW Angie Franciso (4 & 6), D Angela Ruggiero (3 & 4), G Alison Kuusisto (3.44 GAA, .848, 1-1)

Outlook: Harvard is coming off the most successful season in the program’s history and is well poised to make a run at its second straight national championship. The Crimson return four of last year’s top 10 national scoring leaders from its 33-1 team, including U.S. Olympic gold medalist Ruggiero, who led defensemen in scoring last year, and Shewchuk, who became the first woman to tally 50 goals in a season with 51. The line of Schewchuk, Canadian Olympian Botterill (ranked Nos. 1-2, respectively, in ECAC scoring) and Franciso (7th) will give UMaine’s defense its toughest test yet.