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BEVERLY, Mass. -- Top seed Endicott College scored three power-play goals in the 2nd period on the way to claiming the 2020 Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) Championship, 4-1, against the second-seeded University of New England women's ice hockey team on Saturday night (Mar. 7) at Raymond J. Bourque Arena.

The Gulls (25-2-0), ranked No.8 in the nation, capture the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship for a second straight year. Five results in their current 13-game winning streak came against UNE.

After equaling the program season record for victories last weekend to reach their first-ever conference final, the Nor'easters conclude the year with a 16-9-2 record -- the best winning percentage in school history.

Jacy Kuhlman produced the only scoring of the opening frame for the hosts, putting a transition wrist shot from the left circle into the near-side top corner with 12:53 elapsed. EC had a 13-3 advantage in shots through 20 minutes.

A pair of penalties 23 seconds apart early in the 2nd gave the Endicott a 5-on-3 power play and Jade Meier (CHC Player of the Year) found the back of the net for a 2-0 lead at the 3:27 mark. UNE got its first chance with an extra skater at 9:38, and needed just four seconds to cut the margin in half (2-1). Meghan Hamilton scored her second goal of the postseason with assists credited to Marykate Drinkwater and Jessie Scott (CHC 1st Team).

However, another two penalties in a span of 13 seconds later in the period pinned the Nor'easters back in their zone, and the country's best power-play system (entering at 31.7% efficiency) cashed in with tallies by Lauren Ferraiuolo (CHC 2nd Team) and Kaylee Liberty to extend the Gulls' cushion to 4-1 at 14:38 and 15:14, respectively.

UNE had the only two power-play opportunities of the 3rd session, but could not make a dent in the deficit. Alyssa Peterson (CHC Goaltender of the Year) totaled 18 saves to backstop the decision for Endicott and earn Tournament MVP honors.

Julia Benjamin (CHC 2nd Team) denied a career-high 45 shots in between the pipes for the Nor'easters. Both Benjamin and Hamilton represented UNE on the All-Tournament Team.

Nicole Demers and Jillian Gibbs (CHC 1st Team) each added two assists for the Gulls. Demers, Kuhlman, and Meier joined Peterson with All-Tournament status for the home side.