Statistics
Photos

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Hannah Humes scored twice in the 3rd period to dig the University of New England women's ice hockey team out of a two-goal deficit, as the Nor'easters and Curry College skated to a 2-2 draw in Conference of New England (CNE) action on Friday night (Feb. 6) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

Following a scoreless five-minute overtime, during which UNE goalie Kyleigh Matola needed her best save of the contest [Watch] and the Colonels received four stops from Coriann Hoag on the penalty kill, the visitors took the shootout in two rounds to earn the extra point towards the league standings.

The opening goal went to Curry's Bella Mardesich in the 1st, and when Kayley Hansen converted on the power play with 7:16 gone in the 2nd, the Colonels (9-9-2, 5-7-2 CNE / 17 points) had their 2-0 lead. That margin held for more than 20 minutes into the middle of the 3rd frame.

The Nor'easters (9-11-1, 5-8-1 / 20 points) were working on their fifth power play chance of the match when Adria Tebo put a redirect on a centering shot by Kaylen Taddia. Hoag could not locate the rebound after the save, though, and Humes found it at the right post for the finish with 11:28 remaining [Watch].

However, less than three minutes later, UNE was in the midst of killing off 31 seconds of a 5-on-3 disadvantage. The hosts did survive those penalties, keeping it a one-goal game down the stretch.

The Nor'easters finally generated the equalizer with 41.9 ticks on the clock, after pulling Matola for another attacker with 1:10 to go. At first, Humes couldn't quite navigate between three Colonels at the bottom of the left circle, but the loose puck squirted forward and was tipped back into her path to the cage. As Hoag went down to protect the low post, Humes popped it up into the far corner to knot things at 2-2 [Watch]. Taddia and Keely Kasputis registered assists on the third goal of the year from Humes.

Hoag wound up with 30 saves for Curry, which collected four blocked shots out of Mardesich. Matola totaled 19 saves for UNE, and Madeline Hill supported with a team-best three blocks.

In the shootout, Morgan Slough got Matola sliding to net an easy finish, and the Colonels had the edge after a UNE's first attempt missed wide right. Rian Faery then produced a fake and let the puck slip five-hole for a 2-0 lead, before Hoag patiently waited across the goal mouth to make a stop at the left post and seal it for the visitors.

In three games between the teams this season, the Nor'easters picked up five points, with a regulation win over Curry back on November 14 and a couple of overtime setbacks.

Four of UNE's last seven outings have now gone past regulation.

The Nor'easters are off to Rhode Island on Saturday for the second time in nine days to face Johnson & Wales University for a third time. Last weekend, UNE took four out of six points against the Wildcats.