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 Hockey Faces UConn in Regular Season Finale
March 3, 2005 REGULAR SEASON FINALE Maine (14-13-3, 5-11-2 HE) hosts the University of Connecticut Huskies (13-11-8, 9-5-4 HE) for their final two regular-season home games this weekend at Alfond Arena. The two teams will face-off on Friday, March 4 at 4:00pm and again on Saturday, March 5 at 12:00pm. Maine must win both games and hope for two Boston College losses at New Hampshire for the final playoff spot. Maine is currently on the outside looking in with 12 points to the Eagles 15. Boston College can secure the final playoff spot with a tie in either game this weekend. HEAD TO HEAD: Maine and UConn split earlier this season with the Huskies winning the first game, 4-1 and the Black Bears victorious in the second game, 3-2. The Black Bears and Huskies have faced each other 12 times with Maine holding an 8-2-2 all-time series record against UConn. SCOUTING MAINE: The Black Bears suffered a sweep by Boston College last weekend, 2-1 and 5-2. With two wins this weekend, Maine can tie the highest regular season win total of 16 set in 2001-02, but more importantly can vie for that final playoff spot. In Hockey East action, the Black Bears score an average of 2.00 goals per game this season. In the 18 games, the Black Bears have netted 36 goals and allowed 50 for a 2.78 goals against average. On the power play, Maine is 13 for 112 (.116) and have allowed 19 goals in 102 chances (.814) on the penalty kill. Senior captain Tristan Desmet (Strathmore, Alberta) leads the Black Bears in scoring with 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points. Junior forwards Andrea Steranko (Regina, Saskatchewan) and Cheryl White (Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) sit second and third. Steranko has tallied 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points with White adding 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points. Rookie Julie Poulin (Beauceville, Quebec) leads the defenseman with 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) on the year. Sophomore Rachel Gettings (Watervliet, N.Y.) is between the pipes for Maine with a 5-11-2 conference record. Gettings has a 2.70 GAA and a .869 save percentage on the year. SCOUTING UCONN: UConn is on a six-game undefeated streak, the second in team history behind the eight-game win streak set earlier this season. Rookie Jaclyn Hawkins lead the Huskies to a 4-1 win over Northeastern with her second hat-trick of the season last Saturday. UConn tied Sunday's game 1-1. The Huskies score an average of 2.67 goals per game in Hockey East games. In the 18 conference games, UConn has scored 48 goals and given up 40 for a 2.22 average. On the power play, UConn ranks fourth scoring 17 goals in 98 attempts (.173) and second on the penalty kill giving up 13 goals in 85 chances (.847). Hawkins leads the team in scoring with 31 points (21 goals, 10 assists) on the season. Tiffany Owens is second in scoring with 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists). Kaitlyn Shain is the Huskies netminder with a 7-3-3 conference record, a 1.97 GAA and a .930 save percentage. SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Four seniors will lace up their skates for the final time this weekend at Alfond Arena with hopes of their season being extended into the playoffs. Captain Tristan Desmet (Strathmore, Alberta) (128), defenseman Laura Maddin (Langley, BC) (123), captain Emily Stevens (Hamilton, Ontario) (108) and forward Andrea Steranko (Regina, Saskatchewan) (107) have played a combined 466 games for the Black Bears. This senior class is responsible for winning 54 games, 27 in conference play.
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