ORONO, Maine–Laura Martel’s goal 1:46 into overtime gave the University of Maine women’s soccer team a 2-1 victory over New Hampshire in the America East quarterfinals on a chilly Thursday afternoon at Alumni Field in Orono.

The victory was the fifth straight for the Black Bears, who advance to face Binghamton in the America East semifinals on Sunday afternoon in Vestal, N.Y.

UNH tied the game late in the second half, but it did not take Martel, the America East Striker of the Year from Lewiston, long to send the Maine crowd home happy.

Carolyne Nellis crossed the ball that Wildcat keeper Ally Yost was able to jump and deflect. The ball, however, went right to Martel on the far side of the goal. Yost was able to get a piece of Martel’s kick, but the momentum of the shot carried the ball over the goal line, giving Maine the 2-1 victory. For Martel, it was her 13th goal of the season and fifth game-winner.

Maine jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 35:42. A Wildcat defender went to clear the ball in the box, but Kelsey Wilson was able to get a foot on the ball and block it. She gained control of the ball and rifled a shot into the lower right
corner of the goal. For Wilson, it was her third goal of the season.

The Black Bears took the 1-0 lead into intermission. The Black Bears came out and dominated play early in the second half, but were unable to get the all-important insurance goal. New Hampshire was able to tie the game at 1-1 at 82:01.

Shaunna Kaplan had a high arcing shot, that went over the head of Maine keeper Meagan Price-Leibenzeder and just under the cross bar. For Kaplan, it was her third goal of the season. Morgan Keefe assisted on the goal that tied the game at 1-1.

Maine keeper Price-Leibenzeder made five saves in goal. She improves to 9-5-2 on the season. Yost stopped nine shots for New Hampshire. She falls to 4-12-1 on the season.

The Black Bears move to 9-5-2 on the season with the victory. The nine victories are the most since Maine won a school-record 14 in 2006. New Hampshire falls to 4-14-1 on the campaign. 

 Kickoff of Sunday’s game is scheduled for 1 PM. The winner of that contest will advance to the America East Championships.