Barring a miraculous recovery by starting goalie Ben Bishop, it appears as though freshman Dave Wilson will be between the pipes this weekend when the University of Maine Black Bear hockey team tries to secure home ice for the Hockey East quarterfinals.

Bishop injured his groin in Maine’s 5-1 win over Merrimack on Saturday night. He previously injured his groin against New Hampshire on Feb. 3.

“This is completely different,” said Bishop. “The last one was higher up. It was a hip flexor-type of deal. This is lower down. This is a deep groin [injury].”

He said Monday it didn’t feel any better and he is having it examined today.

Wilson said he will be prepared for any scenario.

He has made one road start and was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots in a 5-2 loss to Boston College on Feb. 16.

“It was my first road start. I was back in my net way too far. I was way too nervous,” said Wilson who admitted he worried about BC’s talent and speed.

Wilson said if he plays this weekend, he will be more relaxed and will come out of his net farther and cover his angles more efficiently.

“And I picked up more confidence from the last game,” said Wilson, who stopped all 12 shots he faced in the 5-1win over Merrimack after he replaced Bishop.

UMass coach Don Cahoon feels Maine will be formidable regardless of who is in net.

“The quality of their goaltenders is pretty solid. Bishop has some gaudy numbers and a track record but [Wilson] has done a really good job. His shutout of Vermont is a classic example.”

Maine and the University of Massachusetts are currently tied for fourth place with 29 points and Maine has a Friday-Saturday series in Amherst, Mass., against the Minutemen. Vermont is sixth in the league with 28 points and hosts UMass Lowell for a pair this weekend. UMass Lowell is in ninth place, two behind Providence in the battle for the eighth and final playoff berth.

If Maine and Vermont finish tied in points, Maine would win the tie-breaker by virtue of beating the Catamounts twice in three games. Maine has won its only previous meeting with UMass.

The Black Bears need a win and a tie at UMass to sew up fourth place, regardless of what Vermont does.

The Maine players don’t have to be reminded about the importance of this weekend’s series.

“It’s a tough situation but the good thing is our destiny is in our own hands,” said Maine senior left wing and assistant captain Josh Soares. “If we go in and take care of the job ourselves, we won’t have to worry about another team winning for us.”

Soares and the Bears feel Wilson can provide them with the goaltending they’ll need to have success this weekend.

“He’s played well for us. We’ll need to protect him and give him the opportunity to see the puck and save the puck,” said Soares. “We’re confident he can do the job we’re looking for this weekend.”

Bishop said Wilson will have to adjust to playing on the road.

“I’m sure their fans will be all over him. He’s just going to have to take that challenge and enjoy it,” said Bishop.

UM women close season on road

The UMaine women’s basketball team will try to hold onto third place in the America East standings this week.

It won’t be an easy task, as coach Ann McInerney’s Black Bears (13-12) head on the road to face league-leading Hartford tonight and second-place Stony Brook on Saturday afternoon.

“The way we’ll look at it is, it’s a mini playoff,” said McInerney, whose goal is to “see what we need to do, knowing that we’re on the road for both of their ‘Senior Days’ and it obviously will be emotional for them.

UMaine will try to develop a winning road mentality as it prepares for the America East tournament March 8-11 at Binghamton University in Vestal, N.Y.

The Bears are thinking, “let’s go out, let’s attack them, let’s see what we can do against them,” McInerney said. “Hopefully, we’ll have an opportunity to either knock them off or fix some things in the game plan going into Binghamton.”

Snyder qualifies for nationals

Winterport’s Lindsey Snyder, a junior at Central Connecticut State University, has qualified for the U.S. swimming nationals in the 200-yard backstroke.

Snyder’s time of 2 minutes, 0.88 seconds also broke her own school record. It was also an NCAA “B” cut time.

The NCAA championships begin March 8 in Minneapolis and the national championships will be held in East Meadow, N.Y., starting March 28.