BIDDEFORD, Maine – Julianne Sheehan scored the game-winning goal with 9:55 elapsed in the third period to give the University of New England a 4-3 New England Hockey Conference win over women's hockey Saturday afternoon at the Harold Alfond Forum.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 3, University of New England 4

UMass Boston (13-12-0, 11-6-0 NEHC)
U. of New England (14-8-2, 9-7-1 NEHC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Leading 3-2 after two periods, the Nor'easters saw their lead evaporate just 28 seconds into the final frame when Kristen Embrey (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) potted a shot from the low slot. Alexandra Karlis (Denver, Colo.) and Jenny Currie (Chelmsford, Mass.) assisted on the goal.

Sheehan would tally the game-winner at 9:55 with the Nor'easters on the power play, going near-side with a wrist shot from the right circle. Shannon Smith and Annie Mullen set-up the play.

UMass Boston pulled goaltender Casey Schaejbe (Arlington, Mass.) with 1:39 remaining in search of the equalizer, but the Nor'easters' defense was up to the task. The Beacons had a last-second shot from just inside the blue line, but Smith hit the ice to block the shot just before time expired.

The Beacons had grabbed a 1-0 lead 5:01 into the contest when Lizzie Aveson (West Covina, Calif.) converted a slap shot from the mid-slot.

UNE got that goal back less than two minutes later, as Mullen knocked in a rebound of her own shot at 6:54. Marissa Clifford-Biederman had an assist.

The Nor'easters would take a 2-1 lead at 11:23 when Kimberly Gosselin swept home a back-hander from the middle of the slot. Gabby Crugnale and Clifford-Biederman were credited with assists.

UMass Boston evened the score at 2-all 6:09 into the second period on a rebound goal by Embrey, who was perched on the right doorstep to poke in a saved shot from Alexa Cappione (Massena, N.Y.).

Sheehan responded to give UNE a 3-2 cushion at the 18:31 mark. Mullen spotted Sheehan in the neutral zone, and the rookie forward broke in alone, deked Schaejbe out of position, and slide the puck home.

Sydney Helmbrecht had a strong game in goal for UNE, stopping 37 shots. Schaejbe finished with 24 saves for the Beacons.

BY THE NUMBERS

• All-time UMass Boston is now 0-2-1 when facing the Nor'Easters
• The Beacons closed out the regular season ranked third in the conference standings, which is the highest finish to the regular season since the 2010-11 season
• Karlis recorded her seventh assist in the last four games, while Currie posted her seventh point in the last five games (5g, 2a)

WHO'S NEXT

Women's Hockey will host a first round NEHC tournament next Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Beacons Ice Arena.

Information in this release provided by University of New England Sports Information Department