UMaine capsules

Men’s Ice Hockey

MAINE vs. NEW BRUNSWICK

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m. (exhibition), Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 4-6-2, New Brunswick 12-0-1

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 11-2, Maine 3-2 (OT) on 12/12/06

Key players: Maine – D Bret Tyler (4 goals, 4 assists), C Wes Clark (2 & 5), LW Billy Ryan (2 & 4), LW Chris Hahn (4 & 1), C Keenan Hopson (3 & 2), C Rob Bellamy (1 & 4), G Dave Wilson (0-0, 10.37 goals-against average, .733 save percentage); UNB – RW Hunter Tremblay (9 & 18), C Rob Hennigar (3 & 24), RW Brad Efthimiou (7 & 7), LW John Scott Dixon (6 & 3), C-W Lachlan MacIntosh (8 & 4), D David Bowman (3 & 7), G Michael Ouzas (9-0-1, 1.83, .925)

Outlook: This exhibition game will be a tremendous test for the Black Bears. UNB is the defending Canadian national champion and has been ranked No. 1 all season long. The Varsity Reds are 19-1-1 including exhibitions. They beat New Hampshire 4-3 at Durham in October. The line of Dixon-Hennigar-Tremblay combined for five goals and eight assists in an 8-1 win over the University of Prince Edward Island eight days ago. Maine must find a way to neutralize that line. UNB hosted archrival and University Cup finalist Moncton on Friday night. UNB is a highly-skilled team that is strong on the puck as several of its players are older. Its power play is operating at an impressive 25.8 percent efficiency rate. Dickson and Bowman have both played in the ECHL. Maine hopes to get its power play untracked.

Men’s Basketball

MAINE vs. NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE of TECHNOLOGY

Time, site: Saturday, noon, Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 3-4; NJIT 0-7

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0; Maine 68-58 12/01/06

Key players: Maine – 6-9 C Brian Andre (15.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 6-5 G Mark Socoby (14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.6 apg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (11.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.0 apg), 6-10 F-C Jordan Cook (4.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-4 G Jason Hight (4.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 apg), 6-7 F Sean McNally (3.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg); NJIT – 6-4 G Kraig Peters (10.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg), 6-8 F Nesho Milosevic (10.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 6-9 C Dan Stonkus (6.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-3 G Justin Garris (6.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg), 6-3 G Jheryl Wilson (4.9 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.6 rpg)

Outlook: The good news is, Maine is still outscoring (62.7 ppg), outshooting (40.5 percent), and outrebounding (41.1 rpg) opponents, but the bad news is the gaps are closing, especially in points and shooting as foes are scoring 62.1 ppg and shooting 39.1. Granted, Maine has played much better teams the last two games, but the Black Bears need more production from players besides Andre, Socoby and Bernal. The Bears should be able to continue their rebounding dominance against the slightly smaller Highlanders, who are averaging just 30 per game. NJIT has big scoring problems, both finding it and stopping it with 52.1 points for and 78.4 against so far this season. Opponents are shooting almost 50 percent (49.9) against the Highlanders.

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. FAIRFIELD

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m., Alumni Hall, Fairfield, Conn.

Records: Maine 1-5, Fairfield 5-1

Series, last meeting: Fairfield leads 2-0, Fairfield 50-46 on 12/7/91

Key players: Maine – 6-0 F Brittany Boser (12.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, .905 FT pct.), 5-11 F Colleen Kilmurray (9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 5-10 G/F Tanna Ross (7.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg), 5-7 G Kris Younan (7.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.5 apg), 5-9 G Emily Rousseau (6.8 ppg, 1.5 apg, .440 3-pt. FG pct.), 5-10 G/F Amanda Tewksbury (4.6 ppg); Fairfield – 5-8 G Sabra Wrice (16.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.5 spg), 6-0 F Baendu Lowenthal (15.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg), 6-0 F Stephanie Geehan (8.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg), 5-11 G Lauren Groom (4.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 5-8 G Megan Caskin (3.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.7 apg)

Outlook: UMaine, loser of five straight, hopes to bounce back after Thursday’s 63-62 loss at William & Mary. A veteran Fairfield team out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference features five returning starters. UMaine’s big problem continues to be turnovers (23.8 per game), which have afforded opponents extra chances to score. The Bears are working on tightening up their 1-2-2 matchup zone. Tewksbury’s 15-point performance Thursday is a positive sign for a team seeking offensive balance and depth. Fairfield, which lost 51-45 Wednesday at Villanova, has limited opponents to 52.7 ppg while outrebounding foes by 11.2 per game. Former UM assistant Aliya Cox is on the Stags’ staff.