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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Defender Makena Valentine cashed in on a penalty stroke 2:31 into overtime to give the University of New England field hockey team its biggest win in program history, as the Nor'easters blanked No.7 Tufts University by a 1-0 margin at Blue Bolt Field on Wednesday night (Oct. 11).

In the extra session, following an initial possession by the Jumbos (8-3), UNE (6-8) drew a whistle just outside the circle that was elevated into a corner. Micaela Jacobs had two chances stopped by Tufts goalie Lydia Eastburn, but the ball then popped over Eastburn into the body of a defender next to the goal line, generating the stroke opportunity. Valentine lifted the shot into the upper left side of the netting to cue the walk-off celebration [Watch].

It was the fourth tally of the season for Valentine, who also scored the deciding goal in OT against Colby College earlier in the year.

On three previous occasions -- all under head coach Danielle Collins -- the program defeated nationally-ranked opponents, in No.11 Bowdoin College (2017; 1-0 in OT), No.16 MIT (2021; 1-0), and No.18 MIT (2013; 3-0).

After a 1st quarter in which the Nor'easters held a 3-2 edge in shots and notched the only penalty corner, the Jumbos turned up the pressure in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th periods to the tune of 17-0 shots and 5-0 corners. UNE was sound defensively in front of and around Dawn DeWeese-Moss, though, and didn't let Tufts build any sustained offensive momentum.

Lauren Green contributed a defensive save at the right post with less than five minutes left in the 4th [Watch] to help out DeWeese-Moss, who then came up with a sliding denial of an unobstructed and ripped backhand by Claire Gavin with seven ticks remaining in regulation after a transition run down the left wing [Watch].

DeWeese-Moss had 10 saves on the evening, while Eastburn registered three for the visitors.

Tufts has been ranked during each of the seven all-time meetings with UNE, and all prior contests were at least a two-goal margin in favor of the Jumbos. Entering the night, Tufts had been held off the scoresheet five times since the start of 2021 -- three to perennial No.1 Middlebury College, and twice to regularly-ranked Babson College (current No.2). 

The Nor'easters have now won six straight overtime games (three this year and last year).

UNE now carries a three-game win streak into Saturday's (12 p.m.) Commonwealth Coast Conference home date with Roger Williams University. It will feature the two remaining unbeaten squads in the league (RWU 3-0, UNE 2-0).