Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Senior Jenni Poulin slipped in a backhand with 1:46 gone in overtime to lift the University of New England past Sacred Heart University, 4-3, in women's ice hockey action Saturday afternoon (Nov. 23) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

After a shot by the Pioneers missed the target, first-year Gabby Grugnale sent Poulin out of the defensive zone and down the left wing for the game-winning tally.

It was the second time in as many days that the Nor'easters (3-2-3) and Sacred Heart (1-5-2) had played bonus hockey, as the teams finished in a 4-4 draw on Friday.

Things were scoreless for more than 30 minutes before the Pioneers got on the board at the 12:28 mark on a goal by junior Cara Curran. 

The lead was short-lived for the visitors, as first-year Emily Corrales setup classmate Cassandra Connolly just 34 seconds later to even the contest. After another 25 ticks, Poulin found first-year Gabriella Moscato to make it 2-1 in favor of UNE. The hosts out-shot their opponents, 16-5, in the frame, and carried the slim margin into the 2nd intermission.

Sacred Heart knotted the game less than four minutes into the 3rd period on a goal by first-year Emily Falvey, but Crugnale from first-year Melissa Boudreau restored the Big Blue cushion (3-2) 81 seconds later.

Two penalties on the Nor'easters at the 12:29 mark left the Pioneers with a two-player advantage, and SHU converted after 46 seconds (13:15) when sophomore Heather Daley put in the equalizer. Junior Casey Stathopoulos and sophomore Megan Ofner assisted on the goal.

In overtime, Poulin's shot was the only one on-target. UNE ended on top of a 33-23 margin in shots.

Sophomore Courtney Kendall turned in 20 saves to earn the win for Big Blue, which heads to Saint Anselm College on Monday (7 p.m.) riding a four-game unbeaten streak (2-0-2).

Sacred Heart, which got 29 stops out of senior Mandy Montgomery, visits Wesleyan University on Tuesday (7 p.m.).