The University of Maine will celebrate homecoming this weekend, with several of the athletic teams in action on campus in Orono.
On Friday night at 7 p.m., the #9 Maine men’s hockey team (1-0) opens up a two game series with #7 Quinnipiac (1-0) in a very much anticipated Top 10 showdown at Alfond Arena. The Black Bears started their season on October 5 when they blanked American International College 6-0, and this past Saturday shutout Army 5-0 in an exhibition contest. UMass transfer Taylor Makar had two goals and an assist in his Maine debut in the victory over the Yellowjackets two weekends ago, after just four goals in 36 games last season with the Minutemen. The Bobcats opened their schedule last Saturday with a 3-2 home win over Penn State. Game 2 of the series starts at 7:30 on Saturday.
The Maine football team lost 44-21 on the road to Delaware last Saturday that snapped their two game winning streak, in a much closer game that the final score indicates. The Black Bears (3-3, 1-2 in the Coastal Athletic Association) will welcome in the #5 team in the FCS Villanova (5-1, 2-0 CAA) for a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday in conference action at Alfond Stadium. The Wildcats who are coming off a bye week are led by quarterback Connor Watkins who has passed for 839 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for another 345 yards and three scores. Maine transfer quarterback Carter Peevy has thrown for 1,139 yards and seven touchdowns, while also completing nearly 67% of his passes on the season so far.
Maine women’s soccer (9-1-2, 5-0 America East), who has already clinched a spot in the postseason, will wrap up the weekend looking to extend their win streak to eight games and also trying to stay unbeaten in conference play when they host Albany on Sunday at noon at Mahaney Diamond. Abbey Thornton had the game winning goal in the final seconds of the first half in their most recent win 2-1 last Sunday over UMBC. The Black Bears have outscored their opponents 22-10 in 12 contests, and senior Abby Kraemer (four goals, four assists) along with junior Jordane Pinette (five goals, two assists) lead the team in total points scored with 12 a piece. In 11 games played, graduate goaltender Jessica Kasacek has four shutouts and a goals against average of 0.91. The Great Danes had a record of 3-9-1 and 2-2-1 in America East (0-6-1 on the road) entering their Thursday night tilt in Vermont.
