Box Score
Postgame Interview
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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Junior Jared Melman scored a school-record four goals, including the game-winner with 59 seconds remaining in overtime, to give the University of New England a thrilling 5-4 victory over Saint Anselm College in an ECAC East regular-season finale played Saturday afternoon (Feb. 15) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The victory caps a crucial four-point weekend for the Nor'easters (10-14-1, 7-11-0 ECAC), who downed New England College, 1-0, less than 24 hours ago. The Hawks saw a four-game win streak come to an end, as they drop to 10-10-4 overall and conclude ECAC East play with a 7-7-4 ledger.

Saint Anselm had rallied from a pair of two-goal deficits in the second period to tie the game at 4-all.

After a scoreless third frame, it appeared as if the contest would end in a deadlock until Melman put the finishing touches on a memorable afternoon when he skated down the slot and slid a back-handed shot just inside the near post to send the Alfond Forum faithful into a frenzy.

Melman, who earlier in the week was named a finalist for the Joe Concannon Award, broke the school single-season record for goals (previously 11) set by teammate Ryan Quinn last year.

Melman and junior Nick Kolb each scored in the first period to give UNE a 2-0 advantage. The Nor'easters featured a stifling defense in the frame, limiting the Hawks to just three shots on goal.

Saint Anselm would come out of the locker room with urgency to start the second, getting goals from senior Joe Tebano and junior Johnny Daniels to even the score in the opening 8:26.

Melman notched back-to-back goals to help the Nor'easters regain their momentum, the first coming at 10:07 and the other at 15:19 to once again give UNE a two-goal cushion (4-2).

Hawk junior Joey Agliato tallied just 24 seconds after Melman's marker, then senior Greg Merrill converted a power-play opportunity at the 17:52 mark to tie the game at four.

Neither team had much in the way of quality scoring chances in the third, forcing the contest to an extra session.

Junior Colby Drost had 26 saves for the Nor'easters, who led 37-30 in shots on goal. Melman's linemates -- sophomore Tom Gildersleeve (3 assists) and first-year Trevor Fleurent (2 assists) accounted for five points.

Senior Nick Dries posted 32 stops for Saint Anselm.

UNE will be seeded sixth for the upcoming ECAC East Tournament and will travel to No. 3 UMass Boston next Saturday (Feb. 22). Complete tournament pairings and game times will be released tomorrow.

The Hawks will conclude their regular season Tuesday when head to Stonehill College for a 7 p.m. game.


Click HERE for postgame interview with Jared Melman and Sean Sullivan

Click HERE for Fotografix Studio Photo Gallery