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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Gabby Crugnale scored a power-play goal at 7:34 of the third period to break a 3-3 tie and give the University of New England a 4-3 victory over New England College in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's action Friday afternoon (Feb. 3) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

UNE improved its record to 8-10-2 and 5-6-1 in conference play, while the Pilgrims dropped to 5-14-1 (3-9-0 NEHC).

Crugnale's game-winner came on a one-timer from the lower part of the right circle after Mary Wirth found Crugnale with a pass from the high slot [WATCH]. Kierra Wright was credited with a secondary assist on the play.

The Nor'easters had built a 2-0 lead with a goal late in the first and another early in the second. Shannon Smith got the game's first goal with a wrister from the top of the left circle [WATCH]. Smith's unassisted power-play tally came at 16:10 of the opening frame. Marykate Drinkwater doubled UNE's lead at 6:41 of the middle period, stuffing home a rebound after shots by Haley Gorman and Annie Mullen had been stopped by NEC goaltender Ashley Castriotta [WATCH].

The Pilgrims would respond with consecutive goals 1:30 apart during the middle portion of the second to tie the game, 2-2. Alexis Severance spotted Marisa Roth behind the UNE defense, and Roth converted a breakaway for her seventh goal of the year, which came at 10:49. Megan Servaes struck less than two minutes later with her team on a power play, redirecting a shot in heavy traffic in front of the net. Tori Polehonka and Roth assisted on the play.

UNE grabbed a 3-2 lead with 2:05 remaining in the period when Emily Corrales tipped in the puck from the right doorstep [WATCH]. Abby Kinens had an assist.

NEC would draw even once again at 5:40 of the third on an unassisted marker by Rachel Vigliano. Vigliano won a face-off from the left circle before doing some slick stick-handling and beating UNE goaltender Sydney Helmbrecht five-hole for her team-best 10th goal of the season.

Crugnale's game-winner less than two minutes later was her team-leading sixth power-play goal of the season.

Helmbrecht had 33 saves to post the victory, while Castriotta finished with 30 for NEC.

Both teams return to action tomorrow with NEHC games. The Nor'easters travel to UMass Boston for a 1 p.m. game, and New England College plays a 3 p.m. contest at Castleton University.