BIDDEFORD — Vonde Saunders scored her second goal of the contest with just over 22 minutes remaining, lifting the University of New England to a 3-2 victory over Endicott College in a Commonwealth Coast Conference field hockey game on Tuesday in the rain at the Big Blue Turf.

The win was the fourth straight for the Nor’easters (11-5), who now stand at 9-1 in conference action with two games left in the league slate. The Gulls (13-3) fall further back of UNE in the CCC, settling at 7-2.

When the two met in Beverly, Massachusetts on Sept. 23, Endicott came from behind to capture a 3-2 overtime decision ”“ UNE’s only CCC loss to date.

Endicott struck first in the fourth minute, when Olivia Larson collected a rebound on the right side and slotted a shot inside the near post.

Six minutes later, however, UNE answered right back, as Hannah Cutting found Beth Sullivan at the top of the circle on a penalty corner insert and Sullivan blasted one past the goalie.

Saunders tipped the Nor’easters in front midway through the first half, as she got a deflection off a lengthy hit from Hannah Warren.

The Gulls leveled things up just four minutes into the second period. Emily Sawchuck slid a pass from the right side through the middle and Mackenzie Hurst was waiting near the left post to slap it home.

UNE responded by upping the pressure and racked up 12 unanswered shots (of its 15 following halftime) over the ensuing 11 minutes. The ninth of that sequence found the back of the cage, as Saunders controlled a bouncing rebound in the crease and pushed in her seventh goal of the season.

UNE, which finished with a 22-10 advantage in shot attempts, received three stops out of sophomore goalie Holly Smith.

For Endicott, sophomore Cheka Ventura made 13 saves.

The Nor’easters continue CCC play on Friday at Roger Williams University.