Box Score
Photos
BIDDEFORD, Maine --
Shannon Smith scored a goal and assisted on another to help lead the University of New England women's ice hockey team to a 2-1 non-conference win over Salem State University Tuesday night (Nov. 22) at the Harold Alfond Forum.
With their second consecutive victory, the Nor'easters improved their record to 3-4-1, while Salem State suffered its fifth setback in five outings.
After a scoreless first period, UNE grabbed a 1-0 lead at 4:08 of the second on a power-play goal by
Gabby Crugnale, who tipped-in a shot from the left circle by Smith
[WATCH].
Mary Wirth received a secondary assist on the scoring play.
Smith notched the eventual game-winner less than five minutes later to give the hosts a 2-0 cushion. After a clearing attempt by Salem State,
Michaela McLaughlin centered the puck into the slot where
Tatum Gietl put a shot on goal that was saved. Smith was on-the-spot and stuffed home the rebound for her second marker of the season
[WATCH].
Salem State applied offensive pressure at the outset of the third and was eventually able to end its scoring drought at 6:12 of the frame. Madison Black fired a pass from the left boards into the slot, where Sara Walsh brushed it home to cut the Vikings' deficit in half.
Despite matching UNE with 11 shots in the period, Salem State was unable to notch the equalizer.
Sydney Helmbrecht had 27 saves to record her third victory of the season for the Nor'easters, who held a 34-28 advantage in shots.
Salem State goaltender Sarah Plourde turned aside 32 shots, including a brilliant stop of a point-blank bid by
Gabriella Moscato to keep the Vikings within one with just over seven minutes remaining.
The same two teams will face one another this coming Sunday at Rockett Arena in Salem, Mass. The puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m.