Statistics

GORHAM, Maine -- The University of New England struck twice in less than one minute late in the 1st period to gain control of the scoreboard on the way to a 3-1 women's ice hockey triumph against the University of Southern Maine in the first game of the 2025 calendar year on Friday (Jan. 3) at USM Ice Rink.

With the win, the Nor'easters (5-7-0) maintain the edge in the all-time series, which is now 12-10-2. The Huskies (5-6-2) had taken the previous four meetings -- including the season-opener in Biddeford (3-1) -- and six of the last seven.

Overall shots on goal were 31-19 in favor of the hosts, and the margin was 9-3 when UNE connected first at the 17:27 mark off the stick of Kaylen Taddia, making her Nor'easter debut. Hannah Humes and Raquel Ade initiated the play out of the defensive zone, sending Taddia, the junior transfer from Oswego State, up the left of a 2-on-1 break for a snipe under the near-side arm of USM goalie Haley McKim.

A tough-angle attempt by Humes moments later created a juicy net-side rebound that was collected by Amanda Forziati, who skated in front and then slipped it back to Hannah Keating for an uncontested tap-in at 18:20.

Humes establish a career-best of three points just over 15 minutes into the 2nd, scoring to make it 3-0 for the Nor'easters. The junior defender kept pushing the puck through traffic up the left wall before stepping into a blazing wrister that pinged the far corner under the crossbar. Humes now paces UNE on the season with nine points.

The Huskies got one back a mere 21 seconds later, though, as Saige Macleod saw a close-range follow-up sneak in. USM had increased the shot disparity to 24-12 by the time 40 minutes were complete, but still trailed by a couple where it mattered most.

That was all Kaleigh Laurendeau needed to improve to 5-1 between the pipes for UNE. The 30 saves for the senior netminder was one shy of matching a season high.

On the other end for Southern Maine, McKim registered 16 stops.

The Nor'easters will be back on home ice for a January 11 faceoff (5 p.m.) against Plymouth State University.