Bridgeport, CT (November 25, 2006) -- Senior Sonia Corriveau and junior Pam Patterson each had two goals and two assists as Maine scored five goals late in the third period to break open a close game and hold off Sacred Heart, 10-4, in women’s ice hockey action Saturday at the Wonderland of Ice.

The Pioneers got on the board first when sophomore Gina Arnone (Bridgewater, NJ) scored her seventh goal of the year just 1:51 into the game. Arnone took a head-long up ice pass from Whitney Dziama (Walpole, MA), moved into the offensive zone and ripped a shot that beat Black Bear goaltender Rachel Gettings to give Sacred Heart the lead.

Corriveau got the Black Bears even at the 8:44 mark when she slammed home a loose puck after a scramble in front of the Pioneer net. Maine took the lead with 2:12 left in the opening period on a goal by senior Brigitte LaFlamme. Coriveau picked up a loose puck in the corner of the offensive zone and fed a perfect centering pass to LaFlamme and tapped the puck to redirect it pas Pioneer goaltender Stephanie Boulay.

The Black Bears opened up a two goals lead eight minutes into the second period when Kate Sunstrum beat Boulay with a shot. However, the Pioneers were able to stay in the game, and, with 2:49 left in the middle period senior Michelle Panella (Marlboro, NJ) scored a power play goal to make it 3-2. As the Pioneers set up with their power play, senior Devon Gaslin (Augusta, ME) took the puck behind the net and, as Panella cut to the net, Gaslin hit her with a perfect centering pass. Panella needed only to tap into the net for her second goal of the year.

Maine scored two goals in the last minute of the second period to reopen a three goal bulge at the end of two. Junior Pam Patterson scored both goals, converting centering feeds from Chantel Jaillet and Laflamme, respectively.

The Pioneers cut the deficit to two 1:53 into the third period when sophomore Alexis Dedousis (Scotch Plains, NJ) scored her first goal of the season. Dedousis took a pass from Panella and wrapped around the Maine net, trying to slam the puck into an open corner. The first attempt failed, but Dedousis followed the play, pounding home the second chance.

Panella brought the Pioneers within one with 12:49 left when she scored her second power play goal of the night. Panella was in front of the night to tip-home a shot by Katelin McLaughlin (Hingham, MA) to make the score 5-4.

The Black Bear’s five unanswered goals began twenty-six seconds later when Corriveau scored her second goal of the game. Robyn Law would net two goals and Sunstrum scored her second goal of the game. Law’s second goal came just 12 seconds after Jenna Ouellette had scored.

Maine held a 42-19 advantage in shots on goal. Boulay made 30 saves in goal while Gettings stopped 15 Pioneer shots to earn the victory.

The Pioneers are back in action Saturday when they welcome Trinity to the Wonderland of Ice. Game time is 2:00 pm.