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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Rookie goaltender Kyleigh Matola turned aside 34 of the 35 shots that came her way as the University of New England dispatched Curry College, 3-1, in a Conference of New England women's ice hockey game Friday afternoon (Nov. 14) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The Nor'easters (2-3-0, 1-2-0 CNE) led from start-to-finish after a pair of first-period goals but had to hold off a late charge by the Colonels, who found the scoring column with less than four minutes to play.

UNE opened the scoring at 16:06 of the first when a strong forecheck forced a Curry turnover. Jenna Kirch collected the puck and ripped a shot through heavy traffic into the cage for her first collegiate tally (Watch).

The Nor'easters doubled their advantage very late in the first frame when Adria Tebo slid a pass across the slot to Jamie DuPont, who fired a wrist shot just inside the far post (Watch). Kaylen Taddia was credited with the secondary assist, winning a battle along the boards and shaking the puck free.

Curry trailed 2-0 from that point and appeared as if its would get shut out before mounting a late comeback bid. Bella Mardesich broke the Colonels' scoring drought with an unassisted goal 15:24 into the final period.

The Colonels went on the power play and continued to press, but an empty-net goal from three-quarter ice by Mackenzie O'Leary with 16 seconds remaining dashed Curry's hopes of tying the contest and forcing overtime (Watch). The Colonels had pulled goaltender Coriann Hoag for an extra skater with 1:15 remaining.

Matola came up with half (17) of her 34 saves in the final period to help stave off the Colonels' late push (Watch). 

The Nor'easters, who came away victorious despite being out-shot by a wide margin (35-21), received a game-best five blocked shots from O'Leary and three more by Madeline Hill. UNE's penalty kill unit was successful on all five Curry power-play opportunities.

Hoag finished with 18 saves for Curry (3-1-1, 1-1-1).

The same two teams will face each other tomorrow afternoon in a 3 p.m. tilt at the Canton Ice House.