Statistics

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Trailing 1-0 early, the University of New England responded with four consecutive goals to take control and earn a 5-2 result over Western New England University in Conference of New England (CNE) women's ice hockey action Saturday afternoon (Feb. 15) at Olympia Ice Center.

The victory capped a five-point weekend for the Nor'easters (12-10-1, 9-6-1 CNE) after UNE had topped Johnson & Wales University in overtime less than 24 hours earlier. The 12 wins are the program's highest single-season total since the 2019-2020 campaign.

After Valerie Duval had given the Golden Bears a 1-0 advantage at 13:26 of the first, Hannah Humes evened the contest with just under three minutes left in the frame, sniping a wrist shot after her initial offering had been blocked by a WNE defender. Averi Curran got the play going, breaking up the left side and carrying the puck around the cage.

UNE took the lead for good on back-to-back second-period scores by Adria Tebo and Mackenzie O'Leary. Tebo lit the lamp just 22 seconds in the middle period, assisted by Jamie DuPont and Danielle McCarthy. O'Leary registered what proved to be the game-winner at the 13:31 mark. Humes and Lainie Lemieux set-up O'Leary's tally.

The Nor'easters pushed the cushion to 4-1 on a power-play goal by Lemieux at 7:30 of the final period. Curran and Grace Flannery were credited with assists on the play.

The two squads traded goals in the final five minutes, with the Golden Bears receiving a score from Michaela Birmingham, and Lemieux tacking on an empty-net goal for the Nor'easters to cap the scoring.

Kirsten DiCicco came up with 15 of her 33 saves in the final period to earn the win between the pipes. Her counterpart, Luciana Robertelli, made 18 stops for Western New England (12-9-2, 6-8-2).

Eliana Kane blocked a game-high four shots to pace UNE in that category, while Humes and Kelly McCarthy each contributed three.

The Nor'easters will conclude their regular season next weekend with a pair of CNE contests. UNE hosts Endicott College on Friday evening before taking on Nichols College Saturday on the road.