Women’s ice hockey

MAINE vs. NORTH DAKOTA

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records (last year’s): Maine 4-27-3, North Dakota 4-24-6

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 4-0, Maine 5-4 (OT) on Nov. 4, 2006

Key players (last year’s stats): Maine – F Vanessa Vani (6 goals, 15 assists), F Taryn Peacock (6 & 10), F Jennie Gallo (7 & 7), F Robyn Law (3 & 7), F Abby Barton (4 & 4), D Elyce Thomas (4 & 0), G Genevieve Turgeon (4-19-3, 3.75 goals-against average, .904 save percentage); North Dakota – F Melissa Jaques (11 & 11), F Randi Motsko (5 & 9), F Casie Hanson (7 & 6), F Ashley Paulson (6 & 6), F Stephanie Roy (4 & 6), D Kelsey Fletcher (2 & 8), G Brittany Kirkham (4-20-5, 3.29, .902)

Outlook: These teams have a lot of similarities. Each coach, Maine’s Dan Lichterman and North Dakota’s Brian Idalski, are in their second seasons. They are trying to rebuild their programs after a couple of lean years. UND is 7-55-8 over its last two seasons while Maine is 14-46-5. Both teams also possess topnotch goaltenders who saw plenty of pucks a year ago. Each team will have a good corps of freshmen who will be making their college debuts. Maine must do a better job on special teams, converting on just 7.1 percent of its power-play chances a year ago while killing off just 75.7 percent of opponents’ power plays.