University of Maine women’s interim hockey coach Lauren Steblen has an interesting predicament.

She has played all three goalies this season and she uses their performances in practice on Wednesday and Thursday to help her decide which of the three will start the next game.

“It comes down to who looked the best in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Those are our two big days of practice,” explained Steblen.

Turgeon, a sophomore, has played the most games. She has a 3-4-1 record, a 3.92 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. Lundy Day, also a sophomore, has played in three games and has a 1-2 record, a 4.22 GAA and a .880 save percentage. Gettings, a senior, has also played in three games and is 1-1-1 with a 3.31 GAA and a .871 save percentage.

Steblen likes having three goalies she can depend upon.

“It’s really nice. I feel very comfortable having any of them out there. They’re all out to win,” said Steblen. “Most teams have just one goalie and if she’s off her game, they’re stuck.”

She said having three goalies “also makes for good competition between them. And they all get along real well.”

Steblen considers Turgeon to be her No. 1 goalie but said they all have good qualities.

“Genevieve played very well last year and has had some great games this year. But she could have played better in a couple of the others, too,” said Steblen.

“Genevieve is very quick down low and covers the bottom of the net real well. Rachel is different. She’s more of a stand-up goalie. She doesn’t butterfly. Lundy is a butterfly goalie who is good with her angles and she covers the top of the net well.”

Steblen keeps an open mind pertaining to her goalies and said if one of them got hot, she would stick with that one until she cooled off.

Gettings and Turgeon are scheduled to get the starts this weekend when Maine tries to extend its six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) Saturday and Sunday at noon against Hockey East rival Northeastern at Alfond Arena.

UMaine releases softball schedule

UMaine softball head coach Stacey Sullivan has announced the Bears’ 2007 schedule, which features teams from top conferences such as the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big East, in addition to a rigorous slate of America East contests.

The Black Bears’ schedule is highlighted by nonconference games against Kentucky, Florida State, Wisconsin and Syracuse. Seven home dates also dot the schedule.

“We are very excited about our upcoming schedule this season” said Sullivan, who was named the 2006 America East Coach of the Year in her first season at UMaine. “Our schedule will challenge us early on as we prepare for a tough America East schedule. We’re going to be young in a lot of areas of our team this year, so the nonconference schedule will enable our younger players to get some significant experience early on.”

Maine opens the season on Feb. 17-18 with a three-game set at Kentucky, followed by a week at the Panera Bread Challenge (Feb. 24-26) in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Bears will face Bowling Green and Miami (Ohio) on the 24th, Eastern Kentucky and UT-Chattanooga on the 25th, and Saint Francis on the 26th.

The Bears then embark on the annual two-week spring break trip to Florida.

Maine begins conference play March 31 and April 1 as it travels to Baltimore for a three-game series with Maryland Baltimore County. All America East weekend series include a doubleheaders on Saturday and a single game on Sunday.

The Bears then return to Kessock Field to play eight consecutive home games.