UMaine capsules

MEN’S HOCKEY

MAINE vs. HARVARD

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m., Cumberland County CC, Portland

Records: Maine 11-1-2 entering Friday game vs. Iona; Harvard 9-3-1

Series, last meeting: Harvard leads 4-3, Maine 4-3 (OT) on March 23

Key players: Maine – C Marty Kariya (4 goals, 14 assists), C Robert Liscak (6 & 11), RW Colin Shields (10 & 5), LW Chris Heisten (9 & 4), D Francis Nault (3 & 8), G Jim Howard (8-1, 1.53 goals-against average, .942 save percentage), G Frank Doyle (3-0-2, 1.64, .939); Harvard – LW Tim Petit (6 & 15), C Brent Nowak (7 & 10), C Dominic Moore (7 & 9), RW Tyler Kolarik (8 & 7), D Noah Welch (3 & 10), D Kenny Smith (1 & 7), G Dov Grumet-Morris (8-3-1, 2.24, .924)

Outlook: The Crimson may be the biggest team the Bears will face this season as seven of the 18 skaters who played in Wednesday’s 2-2 tie with Boston College were at least 6-foot-2. Harvard is also highly skilled with three quality scoring lines. Maine will have to stay out of the penalty box and try to create transition chances off turnovers. Maine has done an exceptional job preventing second and third shots and will have to continue to do so. Maine played Iona on Friday night so Harvard will be the more rested of the two. Harvard is creative on the power play and has operated at a 21.3 percent success rate. But the Crimson is a mediocre 83.3 percent on the penalty kill. Maine is one of the nation’s best on special teams: operating at 90 percent on the penalty kill and 26.7 percent on the power play. Maine is also the second stingiest defensive team in the country (1.6 gpg allowed).

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. RHODE ISLAND

Time, site: Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Ryan Center, Kingston, R.I.

Records: Maine 2-5, URI 4-2

Series, last meeting: URI leads 84-12, URI 96-78 on Dec. 11, 1993

Key players: Maine – G 6-1 Kevin Reed (13.8 points per game, 4 rebounds per game), F 6-6 Joe Campbell (12.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg), C 7-0 Justin Rowe (12 ppg, 7 rpg), F 6-4 Rickey White (10 ppg, 8 rpg), G 6-2 Derrick Jackson (6 ppg, 2.7 apg), F 6-7 Clayton Brown (5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg); URI – G 6-4 Dustin Hellenga (16.2 ppg), F 6-3 Brian Woodward (13.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg), F 6-6 Lazare Adingono (10 ppg, 5 rpg), F 6-5 Jamaal Wise (6.3 ppg), G 6-0 Howard Smith (4.3 ppg, 6.8 apg), C 6-10 Jon Clark (3.5 ppg)

Outlook: The Rams have some impressive wins to date: 73-71 in overtime over Southern Cal, which beat them by 28 a year ago, and 73-71 over Providence, which had beaten them four straight times. The Rams emphasize energy and in-your-face man-to-man defense. The Bears will have to protect the basketball and get numbers back to prevent the Rams from getting easy baskets. The Bears will also need to contain Hellenga, Woodward and Adingono. Jackson and White will be called upon to neutralize Hellenga. Maine’s Rowe could have a big day underneath because the Rhody centers, Clark and Chris Holm, are freshmen. Maine might be able to get a lot of second-chance baskets. Maine will need better foul shooting, particularly from Rowe.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. RHODE ISLAND

Time, site: Saturday, 3 p.m.; Ryan Center, Kingston, R.I.

Records: Maine 2-3; Rhode Island 6-1

Series, last meeting: series tied 10-10; Maine won 50-39 on 12/22/01

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (17.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.1 spg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.0 ppg), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (9.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (8.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 5-11 F Monica Peterson (5.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg); URI – 5-10 G Shayla Johnson (15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.7 spg), 5-9 G Denise King (13.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.6 spg), 6-0 F Katie Stailing (8.6 ppg), 5-9 F Tanya Rhodes (8.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-1 F Chrys Washington (6.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears look to get back on the winning track with a road game against the Rams. UMaine is coming off a disappointing 79-77 overtime loss at Kent State, while URI had its six-game win streak snapped Tuesday with a 59-45 loss to Massachusetts. URI beat Kent State 53-39. UMaine must solve a Ram defense that has limited opponents to 56 ppg this season. The Bears are hoping to complement their inside attack with some outside shooting. URI, which has wins over America East members Hartford and Northeastern, has been led by its guards. UMaine will look to take advantage of its fast-break chances, but must force URI to score from the perimeter and limit second shots.