UMaine capsules

MEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. Boston College

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

Records: Maine 7-5-2 overall (3-2 Hockey East); BC 8-5-1 (4-3 HE)

Series, last meeting: BC leads 39-29-3, BC 3-1 on March 24

Key players: Maine – RW Niko Dimitrakos (8 goals, 11 assists), C Tommy Reimann (6 & 13), RW Colin Shields (13 & 5), D Peter Metcalf (2 & 12), C Marty Kariya (3 & 9), G Mike Morrison (4-1-1, 1.96 goals-against average, .932 save percentage), G Matt Yeats (3-4-1, 3.25, .869); Boston College – C Ben Eaves (8 & 15), LW Tony Voce (11 & 11), D J.D. Forrest (4 & 8), RW Dave Spina (4 & 7), LW Jeff Giuliano (4 & 6), G Tim Kelleher (5-2-1, 2.72, .874), G Matti Kaltiainen (3-3, 2.66, .895)

Outlook: Defending national champion BC has won the last four meetings and six of the last seven. BC has triumphed in its last three Alfond Arena appearances. Two of the most prolific lines in college hockey will square off as the Lucas Lawson-Reimann-Dimitrakos line has combined for 16 goals and 20 assists in eight games while the BC trio of Voce-Eaves-A.J. Walker has collaborated for 15 goals and 18 assists in six games. Eaves has produced at least two points in each of those games. Maine will be bolstered by the return of speedy RW Todd Jackson, who has missed five games with a separated shoulder. BC has received 74.8 percent of its points from its sophomores and freshmen.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. Wayne State

Time, site: Friday, 2 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 5-7-1, Wayne State 3-10-2

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 4-0, Maine 4-0 on Dec. 9

Key players: Maine – LW Meagan Aarts (9 goals, 7 assists), RW Karen Droog (8 & 4), C Jarin Sjogren (4 & 7), C Andrea Steranko (2 & 6), D Kelly Nelson (1 & 6), D LeeAnne Irwin (2 & 4), G Lara Smart (1-1, 1.89 GAA, .934 save percentage); Wayne State – C Kelly Zamora (6 & 7), C Katie Jones (5 & 5), RW Laurie Petchar (4 & 5), LW Cheralyn Anderson (2 & 7), D Kelly Meech (3 & 3), G Anna VanderMarliere (1-5-2, 2.49, .916), G Tinna-Anne Thibideau (2-5, 2.87, .882)

Outlook: The young Warriors are 1-10-2 in their last 13 games but have allowed more than four goals just twice. They have one junior and everybody else is either a sophomore or a freshman. They have had problems scoring goals, as has Maine. Wayne State is averaging just 1.87 goals per game while Maine is scoring three per game. Maine is 1-4 in its last five games but has played a tougher schedule. The Aaarts-Sjogren-Droog line has been extremely productive but Maine coach Rick Filighera will be looking for more scoring from his other lines. Wingers Cindy Biron (knee) and Christine Lane (concussion) will be sidelined for Maine, which will begin a stretch of nine consecutive home games.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

LADY HATTER CLASSIC

Maine vs. Stetson

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Edmonds Center, Deland, Fla.

Records: Maine 3-3, Stetson 2-3

Series, last meeting: UMaine leads 1-0; UMaine won 86-78 on 12/30/89

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G Melissa Heon (11.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (11.5 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.1 spg), 6-1 F Heather Ernest (8.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-1 F Julie Veilleux (7.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 6-3 C Eva Moldre (4.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.3 bpg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (6.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg); Stetson – 5-11 F Eboni Long (15.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg), 6-3 C Kaisa Tuure (11.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg), 6-0 F Amy White (8.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.0 apg), 6-2 F Kristy Brown (7.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), 5-7 G Linda Palonen (4.0 ppg, 5.1 apg)

Outlook: The Bears are playing in their third consecutive tournament, the second straight on the road. UMaine has been a bit inconsistent, but is coming off last Saturday’s 62-59 win over North Carolina-Greensboro. The matchup with host Stetson provides a test in the frontcourt, where the Bears must deal with Tuure, Brown and Long. The Hatters’ last outing was a 76-68 loss to Troy State on Monday. UMaine hopes to improve its shooting and will need a balanced rebounding effort to contend with Stetson. Ernest averaged 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds last weekend at Rice. UMaine also must cut down on turnovers (22 per game). The Bears hope to have junior guard Ellen Geraghty and freshman guard Kelly Manning available on a limited basis as both returned this week from season-long injuries.