UMaine Capsules

Men’s Hockey

MAINE vs. HARVARD

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m., Bright Hockey Center, Cambridge, Mass.

Records: Maine 10-6-2; Harvard 8-3-1

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-4, Maine 5-4 on 3/26/04

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (10 goals, 7 assists), C Jon Jankus (4 & 10), RW Brent Shepheard (7 & 5), RW John Ronan (6 & 6), RW Greg Moore (7 & 3), D Mike Lundin (0 & 9), G Jimmy Howard (9-6-2, 2.14 goals-against average, .911); Harvard – C Tom Cavanagh (6 & 11), LW Andrew Lederman (3 & 6), RW Brendan Bernakevitch (2 & 7), RW Jon Pelle (4 & 4), D Noah Welch (3 & 4), D Ryan Lannon (1 & 0), G Dov Grumet-Morris (6-3-1, 2.09, .930)

Outlook: These are two of the nation’s hottest teams and two of the best defensive teams. Harvard, 6-0 at home, is 8-1 in its last nine including wins over BC, BU and Vermont. Maine is 4-0-2 in its last six. Maine’s 2.11 GAA ranks sixth in the country while Harvard’s 2.17 is ninth. The Bears ended Harvard’s season in March with a four-goal third period and a 5-4 win in their NCAA tourney opener. Harvard, under first-year coach and former Boston Bruin Ted Donato, has allowed only five goals in its four-game win streak behind a veteran defense corps and Grumet-Morris. Maine’s penalty-killing, which is second best in the country (90.7 percent) faces the nation’s fifth best power play (23.1 percent).

Men’s Basketball

MAINE vs. MORGAN STATE

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m.; Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.

Records: Maine 4-3; Morgan State 2-5

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 4-0, Maine 69-63 on 12/20/03

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Ernest Turner (12.2 ppg, 3.0 apg), 6-2 G Kevin Reed (10.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, .441 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-3 G Chris Markwood (8.7 ppg, 4.3 apg), 6-7 F Joe Campbell (8.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.000 FT pct.), 6-4 G/F Jermaine Jackson (7.5 ppg); Morgan State – 6-3 G/F Sam Brand (16.6 ppg, .833 FT pct.), 6-4 G/F Christopher Grant (10.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-5 F/C Aaron Andrews (8.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .500 FG pct.), 6-2 G Joseph McLean (5.7 ppg, 2.4 apg), 6-8 F/C Timothy Berkley (4.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears take on the Bears, looking for their fifth straight victory. UMaine has excelled with defense and rebounding, limiting opponents to 59 ppg. While UMaine has been unspectacular offensively, it has demonstrated outstanding balance, receiving contributions from throughout the lineup. Morgan State, which is 2-0 at home, has pretty good depth. The hosts have struggled with rebounding, with opponents averaging eight boards per game more than the Bears. MSU also has shot less than 60 percent from the foul line. UMaine is coming off Thursday’s 62-51 America East win over Maryland Baltimore County, while MSU was drubbed by Nebraska 64-34 on Sunday.

Women’s Hockey

MAINE vs. QUINNIPIAC

Time, site: Saturday, Sunday, 1 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 6-5-2, Quinnipiac 3-11-1

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-1, Maine 9-1 on 2/8/03

Key players: Maine – LW Sonia Corriveau (5 goals, 6 assists), C Tristan Desmet (7 & 2), RW Kate Sunstrum (5 & 3), LW Cheryl White (4 & 3), D Kelly Law (0 & 2), D Laura Maddin (0 & 2), G Rachel Gettings (6-5-1, 2.06 goals-against average, .896 save percentage); Quinnipiac – C Aimee Whittaker (9 & 4), D-F Caitlin Peters (3 & 6), LW Gillian Gallagher (4 & 3), RW Vicky Graham (1 & 6), C Ashley Jaffray (4 & 2), D Karrah Stephen (2 & 3), G Catherine Lapare (3-5, 2.95, .887)

Outlook: The Bobcats are 19-73-6 in three varsity seasons. They are in College Hockey America but will join the ECAC for 2005-2006. Maine is coming off two important Hockey East wins at Northeastern (3-1, 3-2 in overtime). The Bears have won three of their last four. Maine has scored three goals or less in its last eight games and would like nothing better than to conclude the first half of its schedule with a couple of productive offensive performances and wins. The line of LW Corriveau, C Brigitte Laflamme and RW Katie Sunstrum has been Maine’s most prolific of late. Quinnipiac has scored 29 goals in 15 games. Quinnipiac freshman Whittaker has three power-play goals and two game-winners.