MAINE vs. CONNECTICUT, NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Saturday, noon (UConn), Sunday, 1 p.m. (NU), Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 2-2 (0-2 Hockey East), UConn 1-1 (1-0 HE), NU 1-3 (1-0 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads UConn 8-5-2, UConn 4-1 on 3/5/05; NU leads 10-9-1, Maine 5-0 on 2/19/05

Key players: Maine – RW Cheryl White (2 goals, 3 assists), D Kelly Law (2 & 2), D Julie Poulin (1 & 3), LW Sonia Corriveau (1 & 2), C Sheri Wauters (0 & 2), G Rachel Gettings (0-0, 0.00 goals-against average, 1.000 save percentage), G Lundy Day (1-0, 3.00, .818); UConn – C Jaclyn Hawkins (3 & 0), D Natalie Vibert (0 & 1), D Jennifer Houlden (no points), D Alicia Ramolla (np), LW Britney Chandler (np), RW Nicole Tritter (np), G Kaitlyn Shain (1-1, 2.02, .951); NU – LW Nikki Petrich (2 & 2), LW Jessica Coppney (1 & 1), RW Ashley Bielawski (1 & 1), LW Crystal Rochon (1 & 1), C Amy Goodney (1 & 1), D Jennifer Beaudoin (np), G Marisa Hourihan (1-2, 3.36, .915)

Outlook: The Bears look to rebound from last weekend’s Hockey East-opening losses at New Hampshire (4-1) and Boston College (5-3). UConn and NU have solid senior goaltenders in Shain and Hourihan, respectively, so the Bears need to drive to the net hard, create traffic and make it difficult for them. Shain made 74 saves as UConn swept Maine 3-2 and 4-1 on the final weekend last season despite being outshot 77-29. That kept Maine out of the Hockey East playoffs. UConn’s Hawkins was the Hockey East Rookie of the Year last season thanks to her 25 goals and 14 assists and she had a first-period hat trick in UConn’s 3-1 win over Providence. The Bears have scored just two even-strength goals and need to improve in that area. Maine won all four meetings with NU last season. The Bears only other conference win came against UConn.