ORONO, Maine (U-WIRE) -- The Maine women's ice hockey team started the 2002-03 season on the road last weekend with two games in Burlington, Vt. against the Vermont Catamounts.

The Black Bears came home with two convincing wins and look to continue that trend as they travel to Durham, N.H. to play rival New Hampshire this weekend.

"It felt good to get off to a good start with two wins," junior forward Meagan Aarts said. "This weekend was important because it got us into game mode and got us thinking about what we need to work on for next weekend."

For her achievements last weekend, Aarts was named the Women's Hockey East Conference Player of the Week. Aarts scored two goals and added two assists. Juniors Karen Droog and Lara Smart also played well with Droog scoring two goals and one assist, and Smart made 20 saves in a 4-0 shutout against the Catamounts.

The opening weekend for the Black Bears was a success for the most part with only a few exceptions, according to head coach Rick Filighera.

"I think we looked a little out of sync and that just comes from playing in your first week," Filighera said. "We had five [players] working their tails off going in five different directions in the first period, but we gradually got better every period. But for the first weekend I thought we exceeded in how we thought we were going to play. I thought it was going to be more of a struggle than it was."

The Black Bears will kick off their Hockey East schedule this weekend as they face off against national powerhouse New Hampshire. So far this season, the Wildcats have dominated their opponents by outscoring them 25-7. The Wildcats have strong goaltending with senior goalie Jen Huggon, who has a 1.38 goals against average and 79 saves on the season.

In the latest U.S. College Hockey Online Division I poll and USA Today/American Hockey Magazine women's hockey Polls, the Wildcats are ranked ninth in the country with a 5-0-0 record.

"Those polls and a $1.40 will get you a cup of coffee at Dunkin' Donuts. It means nothing," Filighera said. "When the puck is dropped you have to show up and play. My biggest thing for the last couple of years has been convincing my players how important it is to be ready to play every day no matter who you are playing because you can win or lose or tie anybody on any given day."

Last season, the Black Bears and Wildcats played three times with UMaine winning only once; however, each game was closely contested and this season should be more of the same as they face each other in three games once again.

"Maine will be a very strong club, and we'll have to play solidly in both games to have a chance to win," New Hampshire head coach Brian McCloskey said. "I'm sure that both games will be closely contested, and it will come down to minimizing defensive mistakes, special teams and goaltending."

The Black Bears start their home schedule next weekend when they host the Providence College Friars on Saturday and Sunday at Alfond Arena.

(C) 2002 The Maine Campus via U-WIRE.