UMaine capsules

MEN’S HOCKEY

MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE

Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m., Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Records: Maine 10-1-1 (4-0 Hockey East); BC 9-2-1 (6-1)

Series, last meeting: BC leads 41-31-4, Maine 4-2 on March 8, 2002

Key players: Maine – C Marty Kariya (4 goals, 12 assists), C Robert Liscak (5 & 10), RW Colin Shields (9 & 4), LW Chris Heisten (8 & 3), D Francis Nault (3 & 7), G Jimmy Howard (7-1, 1.33 goals-against average, .949 save percentage), G Frank Doyle (3-0-1, 1.59, .935); BC – RW Patrick Eaves (9 & 7), C Ryan Shannon (5 & 11), LW Tony Voce (6 & 9), C Ben Eaves (4 & 10), D J.D. Forrest (2 & 11), LW Chris Collins (3 & 8) G Tim Kelleher (6-0, 2.00, .902)

Outlook: BC has won the last three meetings at Conte Forum, outscoring Maine 15-6. The Eagles have lost two of their last three games: overtime setbacks to UNH (3-2) and Dartmouth (5-4) despite outshooting them 64-31. Maine must stay out of the penalty box and contain the top two lines. The line of Voce-Ben Eaves-Patrick Eaves has been broken up to try to get more balanced scoring. Collins will play with the Eaves brothers and Voce will be with Shannon and Ryan Murphy. Voce has 13 points and Ben Eaves has 11 in nine games against Maine. The Bears, ranked first in one poll and third in another, have won seven straight and are 9-0-1 in their last 10. Maine must also avoid defensive zone turnovers because BC will capitalize. They need to make safe clearouts rather than try to make a play. BC, rated third and fourth in the two polls, is aggressive so the Bears might create 3-on-2s and 2-on-1s with those safe clear-outs. Liscak has a seven-game points streak (4 & 7). BC will be without LW David Spina on Friday (sinus infection).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. AKRON

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; JAR Arena, Akron, Ohio

Records: Maine 1-2; Akron 1-4

Series, last meeting: first-ever meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (season debut), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (10 ppg, 5 rpg), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (13.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.3 ppg), 5-11 F Monica Peterson (6 ppg, 8.7 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (6.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg); Akron – 5-8 G Lindsay Hemmelgarn (8.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 5-8 G Raegan Johnson (5.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 5-8 G Jen Arnold (4.4 ppg), 6-2 F Cydney Overton (4.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 6-0 F Felecia Bell (1.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears, back at full strength with the return of Ernest, hope to open a successful weekend trip to Ohio with a win over the Zips. UMaine hopes to take advantage of its frontcourt presence against an Akron team that uses a three-guard set. Schrader has quickly emerged as a force in the post for the Bears. The Zips don’t appear to have one leading scoring threat and have averaged only 52 ppg. Akron also has been a bit turnover-prone, likely because of its uptempo style. The Zips halted a four-game losing streak Tuesday with a win at Cleveland State. UMaine is coming off a loss to Montana in the title game of the Dead River Co. Classic in Orono. Coach Sharon Versyp is hoping her four freshmen get acclimated to the rigors of travel during the team’s first road trip of the season. The Bears follow up tonight’s contest with a 1 p.m. game Sunday at Kent State. UMaine beat the flashes 78-53 in last season’s opener at the Augusta Civic Center.