UMaine Capsules

MEN’S HOCKEY

MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

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

Records: Maine 8-1-1 overall (3-0 Hockey East); UNH 7-1-2 (5-1-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 45-32-5, Maine 7-2 on April 4, 2002

Key players: Maine – C Martin Kariya (3 goals, 12 assists), RW Colin Shields (9 & 3), C Robert Liscak (3 & 9), LW Chris Heisten (8 & 2), D Francis Nault (3 & 7), G Jim Howard (6-1-0, 1.39 goals-against average, .944 save percentage), G Frank Doyle (2-0-1, 1.76, .933); UNH – C Lanny Gare (6 & 13), RW Steve Saviano (2 & 8), LW Sean Collins (7 & 1), LW Jim Abbott (2 & 6), D Tim Horst (3 & 4), D Mick Mounsey (1 & 1), G Mike Ayers (7-1-2, 2.06, .932)

Outlook: New Hampshire, the nation’s No. 2 team in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online poll, is coming off a 3-2 overtime road win over No. 1 Boston College. The Wildcats have won four straight and they have allowed only 15 goals in their last eight games. No. 7 Maine has won five in a row and is unbeaten in its last eight (7-0-1). The Bears are 4-1-1 vs. UNH in their last six meetings in Orono. UNH won’t have All-American RW Colin Hemingway (game disqualification vs. BC) but they have plenty of other snipers like Gare and Collins. UNH will be thorough defensively and will try to nullify Maine’s transition game and silence the crowd. Maine will look to energize the crowd by finishing its checks and creating turnovers that will lead to transition opportunities. As always, special teams will be a key.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. DARTMOUTH

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Leede Arena, Hanover, N.H.

Records: Maine (16-12 last season); Dartmouth (11-16)

Series, last meeting: Dartmouth won 81-72 on 12/11/01 at Orono

Key players: Maine (last season’s stats) – 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.3 ppg, 3.1 apg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (6.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (7.0 ppg), 5-11 F Monica Peterson (9.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (10.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 spg), 6-6 C Nicole Jay (1.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg); Dartmouth – 6-1 F Katharine Hanks (20.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg), 5-4 G Keri Downs (15.0 ppg, .425 3-pt. pct., 3.2 apg, 1.9 spg), 6-1 F Katie Skelly (9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 6-0 G Courtney Lewis (9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.1 apg, 3.0 spg), 5-11 G Jamie Librizzi (5.3 ppg)

Outlook: The Bears open their season on the road against a veteran Big Green squad. Dartmouth features five returning starters and 12 letterwinners off last year’s team. UMaine, which is without suspended junior Heather Ernest, last season’s top scorer, continues to work on chemistry and defining roles. The Bears are trying to get everyone on the same page and performing at similar levels. Hanks will be a handful inside, while Downs is an accurate 3-point shooter. UMaine will attempt to utilize its depth by pressing full-court and forcing a fast tempo against a Dartmouth team that plays a more methodical, disciplined style.