Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Curry College twice led by two goals but just barely escaped with a 3-2 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's ice hockey result versus No.8 University of New England at the Harold Alfond Forum on Friday night (Jan. 26).

Down by one, the Nor'easters pulled the goalie for an extra skater with 1:17 remaining and then a penalty on the Colonels with 0:51 on the clock made it a 6-on-4 situation. UNE had two chances at the left post saved by CC netminder Shane Soderwall during its first cycle of the power play, and then a glove save by Soderwall with 4.2 seconds left gave the Nor'easters an offensive zone faceoff. The hosts won it and put the puck out in front of the cage, but the last shot attempt rang the crossbar as time expired.

Curry's sixth straight win jumps the Colonels (14-4-1, 9-3-0 CCC) into a three-way tie atop the league standings at 26 points with Salve Regina University and Endicott College. The setback lands UNE at 13-3-3 overall, 7-2-3 in conference outings (24 points); the 14-game unbeaten streak comes to an end one shy of matching the program record.

Through 40 minutes, shots on goal favored the visitors by a 26-20 spread, and the Colonels held a 3-1 lead. But the Nor'easters doubled up their opponent in shots during the 3rd period (16-8) and got one closer on the scoreboard just past the midway mark of the frame. In the waning seconds of a power play, Juraj Elias worked a give-and-go with Anthony Sciucco on the left side of the net and Elias' one-timer while backing into the slot splashed the top-right corner [Watch]. Chip Hamlett also assisted on the play. Elias leads UNE with 16 points on the year (5 goals).

It was 2-0 Curry after the 1st period, with goals by Grady Friedman and Gage Dill, but UNE struck early in the 2nd to keep in touch. On the first power play of the night, for either squad, Dominic Murphy deposited a rebound on the left side after Soderwall kicked a Garrett Devine shot away with the right pad [Watch]. Anthony Cinato set up Devine's try from the right circle to register the second assist on Murphy's third tally of the season.

The Colonels went back up by a pair in the middle of the 2nd, on their initial power play, when Tao Ishizuka stuffed a loose rebound through a crowd on the right side and into the far corner.

Soderwall finished with 35 stops, while Billy Girard IV made 31 saves for the Nor'easters.

The teams will square off again on Saturday afternoon in Massachusetts.