As the mid-winter months of 2007 linger on, the UMass Boston Beacon and Lady Beacon hockey teams prepare to make their way through the last leg of the ECAC East regular season and beyond. With two young and energetic coaches at the helm, a combination of returning veterans and new future stars both clubs can only improve. Looking forward to the playoff run, here is a short review of their seasons so far and a preview of what’s to come. Lady Beacons Women’s hockey is enjoying another competitive season this year following a run to the league semifinals in 2006, where they lost to eventual conference champion Manhattanville. They currently sport an 8-9-1 overall record (6-7 in conference) and sit in sixth place in the league standings with a chance to play at home in the first round of the playoffs. The season has been streaky, including two four-game slides, due to an unusually tough schedule that included stretches against back-to-back perennial powerhouses such as RIT, Saint Anselm, New England, Manhattanville and Holy Cross, even a match up against Middlebury, last year’s National Champion. Despite the challenges, the Lady Beacons are ready and willing to end the season on a win streak much like their midseason run of 6-1 from Dec. 2 to Jan. 7. The last weeks of the season will include rematches against top conference rivals Holy Cross, New England and Saint Anselm. This year’s group includes some hot talent starting with the top three scorers so far, senior forward and captain Melissa Belmonte with 22 points (10 goals), junior forward Casey Turner with 21 points (9 goals) and senior forward Andrea Ciarletta with 17 points (12 goals, team leader). The sharp shooting phenoms have also received great help in the net from sophomore goaltender Jessica Sams and her outstanding back up, senior goaltender Shannon Palmer (sporting a 2.41 GAA). With second year head coach Maura Crowell at the helm, and her team of trusty assistants, Kristen Cirbus, Coleen MacNally and Phillip Bateman working out the kinks, this team can go far, as she looks to make a statement with her ever improving program. The next home game is Feb. 6 at the Clark Center, when Trinity comes to town. “It should be a good game,” Coach Crowell said. “Last year we beat them 5-2, but their goalie fell asleep for about five minutes and we got three goals, so I expect this game to be another tight battle, like against Southern Maine. Any team can win on any night so we’ll see who shows up.” Tuesday night will also be senior night, the last home game of the season and should not be missed. Beacon Men     Men’s hockey is working on rebuilding the once proud program after a disastrous 2006 in which the team went winless in the regular season. With first year head coach Peter Belisle at the helm, the improvement this year is evident, not only in the increase in wins but in the toughness and work ethic of this young upstart team. A future return to excellence is only a matter of time and neither the potential nor the desire is lacking in this group dominated by freshman and sophomore recruits.      The Beacons sport a modest 4-14 record (2-11 in conference). However, the focus this year is not on the numbers, but on the development of a program that can be successful for years to come. Freshman forward Ryan Daust leads the team in scoring with 13 points (7 goals), with the rest of the pack close behind. The gritty play of freshman goaltender Ryan Donovan has been a constant all season long and his stellar save percentage (.918) has been a catalyst for the Beacons. Belisle has nothing but praise for his talented netminder, emphasizing that “he gives us a chance to win every night”. The primary goal so far has been to improve on the fundamentals that go into building a winning team and nobody has helped Belisle accomplish that more than his assistants Jeff Pellegrini, who works with the defensman and Jerry Keefe who coaches the forwards. The last leg of the season presents many challenges including tough games at Middlebury and Williams, but the Beacons are ready to step it up. The next home game will be on Feb. 16 at the Clark Center when Connecticut College visits. Coach Belisle added, ” [It’s] the second to last game of the season, friday night, a great night for college hockey, see the action live, they’re gonna give you 110%, I can promise you that. There’s nothing better than live action hockey.”