The University of Maine hockey team is forcing its way back into the national picture.

After a back-to-back sweeps of Boston College and Boston University in weekend series, the Black Bears (14-8-3) are now ranked 15th in both the USCHO poll and the USA Today polls.

In the Pairwise Rankings, the rating that emulates the formula used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee, Maine is tied for 10th..

And in the Hockey East standings, Maine, with a 11-7-2 league record, is in third place with 24 points, one point behind BC and BU.

However, in Hockey East, Maine has played one more league game than BU, and three more than both Merrimack (23 points) and UMass-Lowell (22).

This weekend appears to be one where the Black Bears can relax, as they play host to non-conference lightweight Alabama-Huntsville Friday and Saturday.

The Chargers (2-24-1) do not look to be a match for Maine, although Alabama-Huntsville beat Denver 3-2 on Jan. 6.

“Got to clean the slate,” Maine coach Tim Whitehead said after the BU sweep. “Got another weekend coming up. If we keep playing as a team, then we’ll have an opportunity to win.”

Or, as defenseman Nick Pryor said, “We all want to win. Down the stretch, we just got to keep playing our game and doing things that got us here.”

* * *

Alabama-Huntsville is fighting for survival, and we’re not talking about wins and losses, but actually being a Division I team.

Last fall, the school announced that the team would be demoted to club level next year. The administration has since reversed its decision but said it would fund only $650,000 of the program’s $1.5-million budget. Supporters are organizing to help fund the team and even have a Web site: www.saveuahhockey.com.

* * *

Football recruits can officially accept college scholarships Wednesday, the first day of the national signing period for fall-sport athletes.

Maine is not allowed to announce its recruits until they sign but various reports from newspapers, scouting Web sites and one Canadian football website confirm a few future Black Bears.

They include quarterback Dan Collins of Williamstown, N.J.; running backs Nigel Jones of Absecon, N.J. and Sacoy Malone of Springfield, Mass.; tight ends Sean Reuss of Moncello, N.Y. and Calvery Schaefer of Westminster, Md.; kicker Sean Decloux of Ottawa; and linebacker/fullback Christophe Mulumba of Quebec.

Collins, 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, played in a run-oriented offense but still threw for 848 yards last year.

Jones, 5-10, 190 pounds, represents a coup for Maine. He rushed for 1,331 yards last year and reportedly turned down offers from Rutgers and Temple, as well as conference rival James Madison.

Malone, 5-8, 175 pounds, rushed for 2,001 yards last season.

Schaefer stands out, literally. He is 6-foot-7, 260 pounds. Reuss is 6-3, 230.

Both Mulumba (6-1, 230) and Decloux played prep school in the U.S.

* * *

The Maine football schedule in 2012 will feature only five home games, but the good news for the Black Bears’ budget is that three of their six road games are within driving distance — Boston College (Sept. 8), Bryant College (Sept. 15) and Rhode Island (Nov. 17).

The other three road games are Delaware (Oct. 6), Towson (Oct. 13) and William & Mary (Oct. 27).

Maine’s five home games are: Albany (Sept. 22), Villanova (Sept. 29), New Hampshire (Oct. 20), James Madison (Nov. 3) and Georgia State (Nov. 10).

The Rhode Island game could the be last with Maine for some time since the Rams are leaving the Colonial Athletic Association after the 2012 season. Georgia State is joining the CAA this year.

* * *

When the UMaine baseball team plays at Hadlock Field on May 15 against Boston College, Black Bears head coach Steve Trimper quipped that he may use freshman outfielder Sam Balzano in left field, in front the of 37-foot left field wall, because he is used to the ballpark.

Hadlock was Balzano’s home ballfield last year when he played for Deering High.

Actually, Trimper was only partly joking. Balzano looks to become a regular for the Black Bears, although it may be in center field.

Another candidate for regular time in the outfielder is freshman Scott Heath of Westbrook. Heath had Tommy John surgery after last year’s high school season and Trimper figured Heath would red-shirt.

But Heath is apparently coming along and can play this season — although not yet pitch.

The Black Bears begin their season Feb. 24 at Clemson.

* * *

The last time Trimper competed at Hadlock Field, it looked a little different. He played there as a member of the Eastern Connecticut State team in 1991, three years before it was renovated for the Sea Dogs.

* * *

The University of Southern maine women’s basketball team (15-4) continues to play well, including a 69-56 romp over Western Connecticut on Saturday. The Huskies play host to Colby (13-4) at 5:30 p.m. today. The Mules’ schedule has toughened lately with losses to Amherst and Bowdoin in their last three games.

St. Joseph’s and the University of New England women’s teams continue to lead their respective leagues; the Monks with a 7-0 record, tied for first with Emmanuel in the Great Northeast Atlantic Conference, and the Nor’Easters (9-2) in the Coastal Commonwealth Conference.

* * *

The USM track and field team received record-setting performances from junior Molly Carl of York, freshman Hannah Wiley of Arundel, and senior Matt Harmon of Auburn.

At the Terrier Classic in Boston, Carl broke the USM 5,000-meter record by almost 28 seconds, finishing in 17:53.86. Wiley broke the 400-meter record by over one second, running in 57.99.

Harmon broke his own record for the 35-pound weight throw, recording a 51-foot, 5.5-inch effort.

* * *

USM wrestling set a school record for wins in a season with two dual-meet victories last weekend. The Huskies are now 13-5, besting the old record of 11 wins.

Copy the Story Link