UMaine capsules

Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE

Time, site: Sunday, 3 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 8-1-1 (3-1-1 Hockey East); BC 6-3-1 (3-1-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: BC leads 47-38-6, BC 4-1 on 3/17/06

Key players: Maine – C Michel Leveille (9 goals, 7 assists), RW Teddy Purcell (5 & 8), LW Josh Soares (4 & 8), D Bret Tyler (1 & 7), C Wes Clark (4 & 3), D Mike Lundin (2 & 5), G Ben Bishop (8-1-1, 1.86 GAA, .922 save pct.); BC – LW Joe Rooney (2 & 9), C Brian Boyle (4 & 6), RW Benn Ferriero (6 & 4), RW Brock Bradford (3 & 6), LW Nathan Gerbe (5 & 2), D Brett Motherwell (1 & 3), G Cory Schneider (6-3-1, 2.21, .926)

Outlook: Maine has won four of the last five meetings at Alfond Arena. Sophomore Bishop went 3-1 (1.25 GAA, .954 save pct.) vs. BC last season. He is looking to bounce back from his worst career outing (6 goals on 19 shots) in Sunday’s 8-2 loss to UNH. The talented Eagles have 12 NHL draft choices, including four chosen in the first or second round. Surprisingly, BC has struggled to score of late, collecting 10 goals in its last five games. Maine (2.10 goals allowed per game) and BC (2.38) are fifth and 12th, nationally, in team defense. One special teams matchup pits Maine’s No. 1-ranked power play (25.7 percent) against BC’s sixth best penalty-killing unit (91.4 percent). Maine can’t allow BC to generate odd-man rushes off transition and has to get traffic in front of Schneider. Northeastern tied BC 3-3 on Friday night. Maine is 109-0-6 when leading after two periods and BC is 58-0-5.

Women’s basketball

Subway Classic

MAINE vs. MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE

Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m., Sunday 2 or 4 p.m., Minneapolis

Records: Maine 1-0; Middle Tennessee State 0-2

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 2-0, Maine 92-78 on 12/28/98

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Bracey Barker (16 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg, 1 spg), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (13 ppg, 3 rpg), 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (6 ppg, 3 rpg, 1 spg), 5-10 G Amanda Tewksbury (6 ppg, 4 apg), 5-7 G Abby Greene (6 ppg, 2 apg, 1 spg), 6-2 C Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa (4 ppg, 4 rpg, 6 apg); MTSU – 6-0 G Amber Holt (23.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.5 spg), 5-10 G Chrissy Givens (15.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5 apg, 3 spg), 6-2 F Krystie Horton (4.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 5-4 G Johnna Abney (4.0 ppg, 1.5 apg), 5-5 G Chelsia Lymon (11.5 ppg, 1.5 apg)

Outlook: Coming off a solid effort in their opener, the Black Bears could be tested severely as the Blue Raiders lost to defending national champion Maryland 80-76 in their opener. The Bears will face some difficult guard matchups against Sunbelt Player of the Year Givens, Holt and freshman 3-point threat Lymon, especially with stopper Underwood coming off an injury and two freshmen in the rotation. MTSU was an NCAA Tournament team last season. UMaine will try to exploit its inside game with Barker and Whittier. Hugstad-Vaa and Green are Minnesota natives. Sunday’s opponent will be either host Minnesota or Princeton.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. ST. FRANCIS

Time, site: Saturday, 4 p.m., Aquilone Court, Brooklyn Heights, N.Y.

Records: Maine 0-3, St. Francis 0-3

Series, last meeting: Maine lead 2-0, Maine 85-65 on 1/14/85

Key players: Maine – 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (12.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (11.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-1 G Jon Sheets (10.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 4.0 apg), 6-10 C Olli Ahvenniemi (2.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg), 6-4 F Chris Bruff (4.7 ppg, 4.7 ppg), 6-6 G Mark Socoby (8.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg); St. Francis – 6-5 F Robert Hines (15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg), 6-3 G Marcus Williams (9.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.0 apg), 6-5 F Allan Sheppard (6.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 6-9 C Bassith Yessoufou (5.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-6 F John Gooden (5.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 5-8 G Jamaal Womack (3.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Outlook: With senior guard Kevin Reed banged up after Maine’s loss to Idaho State Tuesday, some of Maine young talent may have to step into the breech. Houlton native Mark Socoby had 24 points in that game and could do just that, but much of Maine’s success will be determined by the inside play of Bofia and Ahvenniemi and the still-deep guard rotation of Bernal, Sheets, Bruff, and Socoby. Rebounding has started out as a strength for the Bears as Maine has 37.3 per game while holding opponents to 33.3. Still, Maine is being outscored 66.0 ppg to 59.3. The Terriers are also solid on the boards with 41.0 per game while opponents are averaging 39.7. Those opponents so far have been Syracuse, Texas-El Paso, and Pennsylvania, so the Terriers are no slouch.