Men’s hockey

NCAA Regional Semifinal

MAINE vs. ST. CLOUD STATE

Time, site: Friday, 6 p.m., Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, N.Y.

Records: Maine 22-14-2, St. Cloud State 22-10-7

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-1-1; 1-1 tie on 12/28/04

Key players: Maine – LW Josh Soares (19 goals, 22 assists), C Michel Leveille (18 & 23), RW Teddy Purcell (16 & 24), LW Billy Ryan (12 & 18), D Bret Tyler (5 & 19), D Mike Lundin (6 & 13), G Ben Bishop (19-8-2, 2.15 GAA, .921 save pct.); St. Cloud State – LW Andreas Nodl (18 & 28), RW Andrew Gordon (22 & 23), RW Ryan Lasch (16 & 23), C Nate Dey (10 & 22), D Justin Fletcher (5 & 18), D Matt Stephenson (2 & 21), G Bobby Goepfert (17-9-7, 2.24, .927)

Outlook: St. Cloud State has never won an NCAA Tournament game (0-6) while Maine’s seniors are 5-3 in NCAA tourney play. St. Cloud State is a speedy and skilled team that is aggressive on the forecheck and has a terrific top line in Nodl-Dey-Gordon. Maine has to be physical and can’t allow the Huskies to generate speed through the neutral zone. If they don’t, St. Cloud will be able to put a lot of pressure on Maine’s defense corps, which isn’t that mobile. Bishop’s puck skills should significantly aid the defense corps on the breakout. Maine forwards have to backcheck tenaciously and limit St. Cloud State’s odd-man rushes. The Bears will also need to attack the St. Cloud net and create a netfront presence to bother Hobey Baker Award finalist Goepfert, who allowed 10 goals on 68 shots in his last two games in the WCHA tournament semifinals and consolation game. Ryan and Nodl have three-game goal-scoring streaks (3 goals). Ryan and Leveille each have five goals in their last seven games. St. Cloud State hasn’t made the NCAA tourney since 2002-03 while Maine has made nine straight appearances.