Game Two: UMass goes for sweep of Maine

Hockey
Jeremy Rice

After sustaining what UMass coach Don Cahoon called "a completely new injury," defenseman Martin Nolet is once again not in the starting lineup for the Mass Attack. The freshman missed three straigt games (Feb. 25 at Northeastern, and March 2 and 3 vs. Maine) with an undisclosed injurynleading up to this weekend. Forward Jordan Virtue is back in the lineup, listed as a top-line defenseman with Mike Kostka.

What will likely happen is another double-duty game for center/defenseman Mark Matheson. During Nolet's earlier absence, Matheson worked shifts at both positions. At several points, he would finish a shift at center, then Cahoon waved him to stay on the ice, taking a shift at defense.

Virtue's role will likely be to spell Matheson later in the game, taking some of the assistant captain's shifts at center.

Collegian's picks for tonight's game:
Jon Pelland: 4-3 UMass
Jeremy Rice: 2-1 UMass
Both teams played a sloppy game and still won last night. Cahoon has a great ability to get the team re-focused after a game like that. Expect sharp skating and crisp passing from the Minutemen tonight, and a sweep of the Black Bears.

Look for more updates in between periods.

Good News for Mass Attack

Hockey
Jeremy Rice

20 minutes until game time...
Defensemen Martin Nolet and Topher Bevis are back in uniform tonight for the playoff game against Maine. Both have missed a lot of time in the closing weeks of the regular season.

Forward Zech Klann has still not returned, but with the return of two defenders, Center Mark Matheson should be able to focus on scoring up front and less on shifting between two positions.

Starting lines for the Minutemen:
Center- Brett Watson
Forwards- P.J. Fenton, Alex Berry
Defenseman- Martin Nolet, Mike Kostka