Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Rookie goaltender Craig Ryan (Wallingford, Conn.) registered 32 saves to help lead the University of New England to a 4-2 win over New England College in an ECAC East men's ice hockey game on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Biddeford Arena.

The win halts a 12-game losing skid for the Nor'easters (4-18-2, 2-16 ECAC East), who will be seeded eighth for the upcoming ECAC East Championship. UNE will head to Northfield, Vt. to take on top-seeded Norwich University next Saturday.

Now winless in their last five starts, the Pilgrims drop to 9-11-5 overall, 6-8-4 in league play. NEC will take on Castleton State College in a quarterfinal-round tilt.

The Nor'easters got off to a strong start, scoring twice in the opening period. First-year Mike Chase (Falmouth, Maine) got Big Blue on the board 6:57 into the contest, converting a feed from sophomore Zach Lokey (Elizabethtown, Pa.). UNE would double its lead just over a minute later when junior Adam Laite (Howie Center, Nova Scotia) swept one inside the post to make the score 2-0. First-year Chris Glover (McFarland, Wisc.) and junior Brent Bourgeois (New Haven, Vt.) set-up the goal.

First-year Zeth Zielinski (Woonsocket, R.I.) gave the Nor'easters a 3-0 advantage at 3:17 of the second, knocking in a pass from classmate Jared Melman (San Jose, Calif.). Senior Scott McManaman (Amherst, Nova Scotia) was credited with the secondary assist.

NEC answered with a pair of goal midway thru the second frame to cut its deficit to 3-2. First-year Andreas Persson (Landskrona, Sweden) converted on the power play at 8:12, followed by a marker by sophomore Samuli Turunen (Joensuu, Finland) just over two minutes later.

The Nor'easters picked up an insurance goal at 14:49 of the middle period when rookie Chris Healy (Melrose, Mass.) picked up his first collegiate tally. Laite assisted to help extend the lead, setting up a scoreless third stanza.

For the Pilgrims, who out-shot UNE 34-24, sophomore Sebastian Anderson (Sundyberg, Sweden) allowed three goals and made seven stops before giving way to junior Shawn Sirman (Blezard Valley, Ontario), who let in one goal and made 16 saves.