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BEVERLY, Mass. -- A pair of 2nd-period goals proved to be enough for top-seeded Endicott College, as the Gulls held off a late push from No.4 University of New England to claim the 2022 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Ice Hockey Championship in its inaugural campaign, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 5) at Raymond J. Bourque Arena.

Endicott (19-4-1), the nation's 8th-ranked squad, earn the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship, which begins Wednesday. The Nor'easters conclude the year with an 11-13-2 ledger.

UNE managed to hold the hosts scoreless for more than 33 minutes, despite being outshot 29-7 to that point. At the 13:30 mark, on the fourth power play for the Gulls, Jacy Kuhlman put EC in front with help from Tabitha Franceschini [CCC 2nd Team] and Quin Healy. Then, with less than 90 seconds before the 2nd intermission, Kellie Popkin converted a feed from Samantha Fantasia [CCC Rookie of the Year] to double the lead.

The Nor'easters didn't go down easily in the 3rd, though, posting a 12-8 advantage in shots. Maeve Crehan cut into the deficit with 11:45 remaining, finishing a rush up the middle behind the defense. Carolyn Curley and Jenna Pych assisted on the tally.

UNE kept the pressure on until the final buzzer, but could not get another past Michaela O'Brien [CCC Goaltender of the Year] of Endicott, who recorded 21 saves. On the opposite end, Delanie Corcoran did everything to keep her side in the contest early, and racked up 37 saves in the Nor'easter net.

It is the third conference title in as many tries for the Gulls, two years removed from clipping UNE in the Colonial Hockey Conference final of 2019-20. It was also Endicott's third win in four meetings with the Nor'easters this season; UNE is one of the three opponents to defeat EC on the year, dealing a 3-2 setback on November 12.