MEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. Northeastern

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

Records: Maine 3-4-1 (1-1 Hockey East), Northeastern 3-5-2 (2-3-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: NU leads 32-31-12, Maine 6-3 on 3/9/01

Key players: Maine – C Tommy Reimann (4 goals, 7 assists), RW Niko Dimitrakos (3 & 7), RW Colin Shields (8 & 1), C Martin Kariya (3 & 4), D Peter Metcalf (1 & 6), G Mike Morrison (2-1-1, 2.38 goals-against average, .922 save percentage), G Matt Yeats (1-3-1, 3.53, .835); Northeastern – D Jim Fahey (8 & 10), C Jason Guerriero (1 & 11), LW Mike Ryan (7 & 3), C Chris Lynch (3 & 2), D Arik Engbrecht (0 & 1), G Jason Braun (1-3-2, 2.64, .912), G Mike Gilhooly (1-2, 4.15, .866)

Outlook: Northeastern has been playing four first-year defensemen and Maine will have at least three in the lineup. Maine is 4-0-3 vs. Northeastern in their last seven meetings in Orono. Talented senior workhorse Fahey had 12 career goals in 104 games before erupting for eight already this season. He is the man they set up on the power play. Maine will try to create an up-tempo pace. Both teams will be missing productive forwards as NU’s Willie Levesque (abdominal strain) and Maine’s Todd Jackson (separated shoulder) are out. Maine is just 2-2-1 at home and has already lost two games in which it took a lead into the third period. Linemates Reimann, Dimitrakos, and Lucas Lawson have combined for seven goals and nine assists in their last three games.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. Kent State

Time, site: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Augusta Civic Center

Records: Maine 0-0, Kent State 0-0

Series, last meeting: Kent State leads 1-0; Kent won 63-62 on 1/3/94

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (13.9 ppg, 10.3 rpg last season), 6-1 F Julie Veilleux (7.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi, 6-3 C Eva Moldre (1.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg), 5-9 G Tracy Guerrette (5.7 ppg, 3.4 apg), 5-9 G Ellen Geraghty (8.4 ppg); Kent State – 6-6 C Andrea Csaszar (8.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-1 F Jamie Rubis (8.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg in 1999-2000), 5-6 G Lori Krezeczowksi (6.3 ppg, 4.7 apg), 5-8 G Kate Miller (transfer from American U.), 5-9 G Valerie Zona (transfer from West Virginia), 5-10 G Christi Shibata (9.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears open their testy non-conference schedule in the unfamiliar confines of the Augusta Civic Center. UMaine meets a Kent State squad that went 21-8 and finished as the Mid-American Conference runner-up. The Bears are looking to further establish team chemistry as the veterans and newcomers mesh. UMaine faces a team that plays the same kind of hard-nosed, man-to-man defense it hopes to employ. Keys for the Bears in this one will include rebounding, getting to the foul line, and hustling after loose balls. It could be a fast-paced game, as both teams love to run. The Moldre-Csaszar matchup in the post is a big one. The Golden Flashes, who have made three NCAA Tournament appearances in the last six seasons, return two starters in Krezeczowski and Shibata.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY TIP-OFF CLASSIC

Maine vs. Texas-San Antonio

Time, site: Friday, 6 p.m.; Golden Panther Arena, Miami, Fla.

Records: Maine 0-1, Texas-San Antonio 0-0, St. Peter’s 0-0, FIU 0-0

Series, last meeting: UTSA leads 1-0; UTSA won 97-69 on 12/6/97

Key players: Maine – 6-3 G Errick Greene (16.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg), 6-7 F Clayton Brown (13.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (6.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.0 bpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (4.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-5 F Rickey White (3.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg; Texas-San Antonio – 6-5 G Devin Brown (19.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg last season), 6-3 F Reggie Minnieweather (9.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 6-0 G Keary Brownlee (transfer from Meriden Community College), 6-7 F Raymond Briggs (transfer from Seward County CC), 6-7 F McEverett Powers (10.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg); St. Peter’s – 6-5 F Kamaal McQueen (12.5 ppg last season), 6-5 F Melvin Robinson (8.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-9 C Mike McKie (8.7 ppg), 6-5 G Regis Devonish (5.1 ppg), 6-0 G Nate Brown (5.5 ppg); Florida International – 6-3 G Haven Jackson (7.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg last season), 6-2 G Slavcho Slavtchev (5.9 ppg), 5-11 G Fab Fisher (3.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg), 6-9 F Taurance Johnson (freshman), 6-2 G Carlos Morban (freshman)

Outlook: After a season-opening loss to Arkansas in Monday’s Preseason NIT game, the Bears will face a Roadrunners squad that is two years removed from an NCAA tourney appearance. Brown was a standout on that team. Texas-San Antonio went 14-15 last season, but will likely provide a good test for a UMaine squad that is trying to learn on the fly: Of the eight Black Bears who played on Monday, only Greene and Jackson saw much Division I playing time a year ago. Rowe showed flashes of the dominant center UM coach John Giannini hopes he’ll become, blocking four shots against the talented Razoarbacks. Expect Rowe to break the school record for blocks in a game (8) before the end of the season.