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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Two goals less than two minutes apart just past the middle of the 3rd period gave No.5 Curry College a lead it would not relinquish, as the Colonels held on for a key 4-3 Conference of New England (CNE) decision versus No.8 University of New England on Saturday night (Feb. 15) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

It was a battle of the two longest active winning streaks in Division III, at 12 and 10 games. By extending its to 13 (since falling to UNE in December), Curry (21-3-0, 15-2-0 CNE) moves to 46 points in the standings and clinches the top spot in the upcoming conference tournament, which begins with a pair of first round matches on February 26. The Nor'easters (17-6-1, 13-4-0) stand at 40 points and are mathematically clear of third-place Endicott College, thus claiming the second seed and a bye into the semifinals on March 1. The league will conclude the regular season next weekend.

The Colonels never trailed in the contest, following the initial score by Grady Friedman midway through the 1st session. That cushion lasted less than three minutes, though, as Cam Bergeman brought the hosts back level (1-1) by stuffing a rebound at the right post -- off a Brayden Cook shot -- for his seventh tally of the year [Watch]. However, Nolan McDonough put the visitors back in front with 74 ticks left in the frame.

After a scoreless 2nd period, Dominic Murphy netted the equalizer for UNE at the 6:28 mark of the 3rd. The sophomore's 16th goal of the campaign came with a persistent push through a crowd down the middle, finally batting the puck inside the right post [Watch].

Curry regained the ultimate edge a few minutes later with another goal by McDonough, moments before starting power play for a major penalty. Victor Daigneault then padded the lead with 7:36 left on the clock.

The Nor'easters were able to clear the remaining 3:26 of the penalty kill to hold the deficit right there, and then went on their own advantage with 3:47 to play. An offensive-zone faceoff provided an opportunity to pull the goalie to create a 6-on-4 situation, and that's when another strong skating burst by Murphy set up a crease-front finish by Dylan Schuett to get UNE within one [Watch]. It was the third marker in as many days, and of the season, for Schuett. The best power play unit in the country (32.4%) has scored at least once in nine of the last 10 games; prior to the recent stretch, the conversion rate was slightly above 20 percent.

Despite some life restored to the opposing bench, the Colonels needed just one more stop out of Shane Soderwall -- seconds later, on a point-blank try from the bottom of the right circle -- as UNE's final three chances with an extra attacker didn't make it to the target. Soderwall had 17 saves on the evening.

McDonough topped all players with three points, while receiving two assists of support from both Gage Dill and Shane Carr.

For the Nor'easters, Joey Stanizzi put up 29 saves, and Will Spitzer supported the defensive efforts with a game-high four blocked shots. Juraj Elias tacked on two more assists for the offense -- now with at least one assist in five consecutive outings, and nine points over that span.

UNE's last prep before the league championship will be a visit to Wentworth Institute of Technology on Friday.
 

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Shea Courtmanche, Ryan Kuzmich, Anthony Sciucco