BURLINGTON, VT. — The University of Maine hockey team is really painted into a corner after losing 2-0 Friday night to Vermont at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

Maine forward Rob Bellamy was assessed a five minute major penalty and game misconduct at 10:56 of the second period and Vermont scored twice on the five minute power play that ensued.

Goal: Brayden Irwin at 13:41
Goal: Colin Vock at 15:03

Maine broke a seven game losing streak with a dramatic 3-2 win Saturday night over UMass at Alfond Arena.

The win was a critical one for the Black Bears and keeps the team alive in the race for the 8th and final Hockey East playoff spot.

After trailing 2-1, Maine got third period goals from Keif Orsini and Matt Duffy in the win.

Another very strong performance by Maine goalie Ben Bishop. He had 24 saves.

Maine point guard Emily Rousseau of Biddeford is listed as day to day with a leg injury she suffered against Albany last week.

She will undergo tests today, and is unlikely to play Saturday against Binghamton,
according to the sports information department.

Rousseau has averaged 8.1 points per game in 24 games this season. She averages 28.4 minutes of playing time a game, second most on the team.

Former Maine goalie Jimmy Howard appears to be on schedule in his bid to be the man in goal for the Detroit Red Wings one day.

Howard made 30 saves in a 1-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

He was recalled last week to back up Chris Osgood with Dominik Hasek nursing a sore hip flexor, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The game was his first NHL start since 2005.

Maine baseball tied for third place in the America East Preseason Coaches Poll today.

The team will be young this year with 16 newcomers to join seven starters.

The season opens up Feb. 22 (next Friday) in Delaware.
The America East season opens April 11 in Orono.

Time is ticking away on the Maine hockey team after dropping a pair of games to New Hampshire this weekend - 3-2 and 4-1 - at Alfond Arena.

Maine still sits in ninth place in the Hockey East standings, four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. Massachusetts occupies the No. 8 spot.

A saving grace, right now anyway, is that Maine plays Massachusetts twice at home later this month. Those games will at least afford Maine the chance to get four points from the Minutemen.

Gorham running back Justin Villacci highlights a group of 18 recruits that committed to Maine Wednesday on national signing day.

Villacci, a Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist and Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, is expected to be converted to wide receiver at Maine.

Villacci rushed for 19 touchdowns and 1,293 yards in his senior year at Maine.

Maine football is expecting somewhere around 20 recruits to commit to the program Wednesday on national signing day.

The program will open the season next year with a game against the University of Iowa to mark the fifth straight year Maine will take on a FBS (I-A) team.

Maine is also expecting a few recruits for field hockey to sign on Wednesday.