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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology scored goals 40 minutes apart and received a five-save shutout from Alexia Ninios to defeat the University of New England, 2-0, in field hockey action Saturday afternoon at Blue Bolt Field.

"We connected well today and had opportunities on cage, but MIT's goalie played phenomenal," commented UNE head coach Danielle Collins. "Still have things to work on, but overall, today was encouraging against a quality opponent."

The tone for quality scoring chances was set right from the jump, as Ella Reeves whistled a drive from the top of the circle fractionally wide. The first look for the Engineers (2-0) was just as dangerous, but Reeves held her ground at the right post for a defensive save on MIT's Janie Thomas, who had potted two of the team's four scores earlier in the week.

Near the tail end of the initial frame, Ingrid Tomovski created space for herself deep in the right corner and sent a threatening ball towards the cage for Jane Tortorella to tip in to give the visitors a 1-0 edge.

Reeves came up with another defensive stop on a redirection in the 2nd period to keep the margin at one. It was still close through 45 minutes, as both Ninios and UNE netminder Riley Curtin made a couple of sprawling, point-blank denials in the 3rd.

Midway through the 4th quarter, though, Tomovski made a 40-yard run around the last defenders and slotted one inside the far post for some valuable insurance on the Engineers' side. That was because Ninios still needed a right-toe save on a UNE break with just over two minutes remaining to hold the two-goal lead.

Curtin made three more big-time saves in the waning minutes to close the setback with a total of seven.

The Nor'easters will get one day off before No.15 Bowdoin College comes to town on Monday for a 7 p.m. match.