University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutemen Gear Up For Second Half Of Season
December 28, 2004 | Hockey
Dec. 28, 2004
AMHERST, Mass.-
After a break for the holiday season, Massachusetts returns to the ice for a pair of non-league games against the Princeton Tigers and the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks on Wednesday and Thursday. Prior to the halt in play, UMass split a weekend schedule--falling to New Hampshire 4-0 and defeating Sacred Heart 2-1.
Princeton and UMass have met eight times in the history of the two programs, with Princeton holding a 5-3-0 edge in the series. However, the Minutemen have won the last two contests--Dec. 1 and 12, 2002 (5-3, 4-3 (OT)). The Tigers hold a 3-1-0 edge in games played in Amherst.
Nebraska-Omaha holds a 5-1-1 advantage all-time over the Minutemen, winning five in a row from Nov. 8, 1997 to Nov. 28, 2003. The lone UMass win took place on Nov. 7, 1997--a 3-2 victory. The most recent meeting--Nov. 29, 2003--resulted in a 1-1 draw. UNO won the only game taking place in Amherst--the 3-2 OT victory on Oct. 27, 2002.
Six of the next seven games will be held at the Mullins Center, with only a trip to UMass-Lowell breaking up that trend on Jan. 7. In addition to this week's games, the Minutemen will host Maine twice and Lowell and Boston College once.
After facing the Mavericks on Thursday, UMass' final non-Hockey East contest will take place on Feb. 26 at Niagara. The Purple Eagles of College Hockey America (CHA) and the Minutemen have faced off twice before, both games resulting in UMass victories.