UMaine capsules

Men’s Hockey

MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m.; Walter Brown Arena, Boston

Records: Maine 16-5-1 (8-3-1 Hockey East), BU 6-8-6 (3-7-2)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 39-38-7; Maine 2-1 on 11/1/03

Key players: Maine – RW Colin Shields (10 goals, 11 assists), C Michel Leveille (2 & 19), LW Todd Jackson (11 & 5), D Prestin Ryan (3 & 9), D Troy Barnes (2 & 9), G Frank Doyle (11-3, 1.53 goals-against average, .930 save percentage), G Jimmy Howard (5-2-1, 1.61, .932); BU – D Ryan Whitney (5 & 10), C David Klema (3 & 10), RW Frantisek Skladany (2 & 11), D Kevin Schaeffer (5 & 7), C John Laliberte (4 & 6), RW Mark Mullen (6 & 3), G Sean Fields (4-7-4, 3.14, .886)

Outlook: It appears as though the Terriers will be without leading goal scorer Ken Magowan, who was injured in Saturday night’s 3-2 loss to Boston College. The Terriers have been held to two goals or less 11 times and are 0-8-3 in those games. The eighth-place Terriers are much better than their record indicates, but they need to string some wins together if they’re going to earn a third straight NCAA tournament berth. BU had two impressive 5-5 ties against two-time defending NCAA champ Minnesota in Minnesota, but have gone just 1-3 since. It will be a physical series and Maine has to do a better job shooting on net and fighting through checks to create second and third shots. Senior Fields has been struggling and has been pulled and replaced by Stephan Siwiec (2-1-2, 2.46, .914) in his last two starts.

Women’s Hockey

MAINE vs. CONNECTICUT

Time, site: Friday, 4 p.m., Saturday, noon; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 7-9-3 (4-3-1 Hockey East); UConn 6-11-3 (2-3-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 4-0-2; Maine 5-1 on 3/2/03

Key players: Maine – LW Meagan Aarts (5 goals, 8 assists), RW Karen Droog (5 & 7), RW Sonia Corriveau (8 & 1), C Katie Sunstrum (6 & 2), D Morgan Janusc (1 & 7), D Kelly Law (2 & 2), G Lara Smart (5-9-3, 2.43 goals-against average, .922 save percentage); UConn – C Sara Mahoney (2 & 5), W Erika Spaeth (1 & 6), C Leslie Hurlburt (4 & 1), C Megan McLeod (4 & 1), D Caitlin Salazer-Reid (0 & 3), G Kaitlyn Shain (5-4-1, 2.05, .934), G Shannon Murphy (1-5-2, 2.69, .912)

Outlook: The Huskies are without leading scorer Shannon Connolly (8 & 1) and top defenseman Stefanie Snow (2 & 5), both of whom were injured in two losses to Providence last weekend. Maine was swept by UNH 4-1, 3-0. Both teams have had problems scoring goals. UConn has lost four in a row and has scored six goals in those setbacks. The Black Bears must do a better job driving to the net. UConn is physical and will forecheck aggressively. The Black Bear defensemen must move the puck quicker. Droog and Aarts need to start scoring if the Bears are to make a stretch run. UConn has a win over St. Lawrence, ranked sixth nationally, and ties against No. 7 Mercyhurst and No. 8 UNH.