GORHAM, Maine – Junior forward Courtney White (Medford, Mass.) scored a goal with 5:48 remaining in the third period to break a 1-1 tie and propel the University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons women's hockey team past the University of Southern Maine Huskies 2-1 in an ECAC Women's East hockey matchup at the USM Ice Arena Saturday.

            With the win, UMass Boston improved to 7-9-2 overall and 4-5-2 in conference play. Southern Maine has lost four in a row, and dropped to 4-8-4 overall and 3-5-2 in the conference.

            White, who transferred to UMass Boston this year after spending the past two seasons playing for USM, picked the pocket of a USM defender in the Huskies' zone and slipped a shot past Southern Maine sophomore goaltender Liz Bergstrom (Chanhassen, Minn.) to put the Beacons up 2-1. The goal was a White's second of the season and second in as many games.

            The Huskies struck first when junior forward Erin Banfield (Montpelier, VT) took the puck from behind the net to the left side and scored a backhanded, unassisted goal 14:06 into the opening period.  Banfield is now tied for the team-lead in goals with five.

            UMass Boston answered just under 2:22 later when sophomore forward Emily Howard (Terryville, Conn.) took a pass from senior forward Emily LaRosa (Weymouth, Mass.) and scored her sixth goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1.

            Play went back and forth in the second and third periods until White scored her game winner with just under six minutes to play.

            UMass Boston freshman goaltender Casey Schaejbe (Arlington, Mass.) got the win making 25 saves.  Bergstrom made 22 saves before being pulled for the extra attacker with 1:07 to play.

            Southern Maine returns to action on Friday when they host ECAC Women's East opponent Salve Regina University (4 p.m.).  UMass Boston will host conference opponent Nichols College on Friday (4 p.m.).

-jan-