HOCKEY EAST WOMEN’S SEMIFINAL

No. 3 Maine vs. No. 2 New Hampshire

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m., Matthews Arena, Boston

Records: Maine 12-14-4 overall (5-8-2 Hockey East); UNH 26-6-2 (13-2 HE)

Series, last meeting: UNH leads 11-1, UNH 3-0 on Feb. 11

Key players: Maine – LW Meagan Aarts (12 goals, 14 assists), RW Karen Droog (15 & 7), C Jarin Sjogren (8 & 9), RW Raffi Wolf (2 & 11), D Vicky Johnstone (2 & 3), G Dawn Froats (8-3-1, 1.66 goals-against average, .921 save percentage), G Lara Smart (4-11-3, 2.24, .921); New Hampshire – LW Stephanie Jones (21 & 15), RW Carolyn Gordon (19 & 15), RW Chandy Kaip (12 & 22), C Randi MacMaster (10 & 20), D Allison Edgar (9 & 21), D Kristen Thomas (4 & 23), G Jen Huggon (25-6-2, 1.59, .927)

Outlook: The Bears have scored just once in three losses to the Wildcats this season as Hockey East Player of the Year Huggon stopped 55 of 56 shots. Maine has won four of its last five games while UNH has won six of its last seven. The Bears are going to have to drive to the net aggressively and create traffic in front of Huggon. UNH has exceptional scoring balance and Edgar and Thomas love to jump into the offense. They are two of the top scoring defensemen in the country. The Bear forwards are going to have to be wary of them and not allow them to sneak into the Grade-A scoring areas. The Wildcats have to win the tournament title to stand any chance of advancing to the four-team NCAA Tournament.