UM’s Law to face Olympians

Defenseman Kelly Law of the University of Maine women’s hockey team is looking forward to an opportunity to play for a Hockey East All-Star team against the 2006 United States Women’s Olympic Team on Dec. 11 at the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.

She is the only representative from Maine.

“I’m really pumped about it,” said the junior from Markham, Ontario. “It should be a good experience. I wasn’t really expecting it. It’s a nice accomplishment.”

She expects a high-tempo game and said it will provide her with a good personal gauge.

“It’ll be nice to see how much harder I’m going to have to work to play at that level,” said Law.

Law is off to her best start in a Black Bear uniform with three goals and three assists in eight games.

She dropped “15-20 pounds” by running at least three miles every day for four months this summer, and she said it’s paying off.

“I’m in great shape. I feel like I can go the whole game. It’s kind of nice. And my agility is better,” said Law, second cousin of former Maine men’s goalie Frank Doyle.

She said she loves playing at the Whittemore Center, which is Olympic-size and 15 feet wider than the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena.

“There’s a lot of skating room,” said Law, who feels playing a team as talented and as fast as the U.S. Olympic team will require her to make quicker decisions with the puck. The experience should help her the rest of the season, she said.

LeBlanc, Williamson honored

Senior Stacy LeBlanc of the University of Southern Maine has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District One women’s soccer second team.

LeBlanc, a defender, has helped USM compile an 11-6-1 overall record and a berth in the Little East Conference semifinals.

Forward Laura Williamson of Colby College in Waterville earned a spot on the third team.