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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Juraj Elias had a goal and an assist in the 3rd period as No.9 University of New England separated from Bowdoin College for a hard-fought 3-1 men's ice hockey triumph on Tuesday night (Jan. 16) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

With seven wins in-a-row and now with the program's third-longest unbeaten streak at 12 games (10-0-2), the Nor'easters improve to 12-2-2 entering this weekend's home-and-home series with No.15 Salve Regina University. Bowdoin slips to 9-4-2 overall.

Things went scoreless in the 1st period, thanks in large part to Polar Bears netminder Alex Kozic, who made nine stops while killing off all but 11 seconds of a major penalty. Included during that span was two minutes of 5-on-3 action.

A power play gave Bowdoin a 1-0 lead at the 6:51 mark of the middle frame, as Richard Davis pulled a rebound from the crease back to Luke Wheeler for the goal. The visitors were again on the man-advantage later in the period, but a blocked shot off the leg of Will Spitzer couldn't be settled by a couple of Polar Bears and Nathan Chickering sprinted the other way to finish the shorthanded bid for UNE to knot the score at 1-1 [Watch]. It was the first goal for Chickering during the unbeaten run.

The Nor'easters came out strong in the final stanza, and Jayden Price stuffed in the go-ahead goal on the power play with 2:42 elapsed [Watch]. Elias and Chip Hamlett assisted on Price's team-leading sixth tally of the season.

Skating 4-on-4 midway through the period, Noah Szretter displayed a quick stick to halt Bowdoin in transition and tapped it to Elias, who sent a cross-ice outlet to Ryan Kuzmich. Elias turned on the jets to catch up to Kuzmich, received the centering pass alone in the slot, and delivered a laser over the right pad of Kozic [Watch]. Kuzmich has a point in each of the last five outings.

The Polar Bears had 2:44 at the end with an extra skater, but UNE goalie Billy Girard IV was up to the task and closed out a 35-save night. Spitzer topped all players with three blocked shots in support. Kozic wound up with 33 saves for the visiting side.

The Nor'easters have allowed only 14 goals over the last 11 matches (7 EV, 7 PP), lowering the season scoring defense to 1.75 -- the 4th-best in the country. Salve Regina comes into Friday's 7 p.m. matchup at the Forum with the 4th-best scoring offense in Division III (4.50). The game is also the 8th Annual Teddy Bear Toss event at UNE.