12/1/2011 11:45 AM 

In their third and final three-game weekend of the season, the #2 ranked UMBC Retrievers (12-2-2) will travel to the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Showcase in Warwick, PA to face-off Friday v #3 Penn St, Saturday v arch-rival #12 Temple, and Sunday v #13 Rowan.

Friday Night UMBC will face the #3 ranked Penn St Ice Lions (13-2-0). Penn St comes into the weekend on a tear having won their last 8 contests. UMBC has not lost to Penn St since the Ice Lions joined the MACH in 2009, but all have been good, close contests. UMBC won 5-3 in University Park, PA in 2009-10, 5-4 in overtime last season at Piney Orchard, and 2-1 to send UMBC to nationals last year in Philadelphia. This game is expected to have a major impact on upcoming rankings and possibly the automatic bid to nationals as this is the only time the two teams are scheduled to meet this season. 

When asked about the game in an interview for hockeyyall.com, Retriever Head Coach Aaron Voegtli had the following to say: “I expect a very good game. I think this is the best game in the country on Friday night, both teams match up well, both have excellent goalies and good team defense, and a number of forwards that can score at will.” The entire article can be found at http://hockeyyall.com/?p=6020

Saturday Afternoon will provide the lastest edition of the UMBC-Temple rivalry. The #12 ranked Owls (4-11-0) started off slow due to a tough schedule and injuries but have turned it around of late winning their last three games. UMBC defeated Temple 7-2 on October 15 at the Riesterstown Sportsplex. The retrievers outshot Temple by a 55-28 margin and Sean O'Connor led all scorers with 5 five points that night.

Sunday morning the Retrievers will complete their weekend when they take on Rowan University. The #13 Profs (4-9-0-1) come into the weekend on the heels of a November in which they went 1-5-0 and were outscored 38-13. UMBC is 5-0-1 all time vs Rowan inclding a 5-2 regular season victory at Rowan last year and a 5-4 victory in the MACHA-North semifinals last season. Sunday is the only scheduled meeting between UMBC and Rowan this season.

UMBC MACH Showcase Schedule:

Friday v Penn St 5:30 pm HerbFM

Saturday v Temple 1:00 pm HerbFM

Sunday v Rowan 9:00am

All 3 games will be played at the Rinks at Warwick located at 1621 Mearns Rd, Warwick, PA 18974