BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Junior Ben Pearl completed a hat-trick with 3.6 seconds remaining to give the University of New England a thrilling 4-3 win over Saint Michael's College in ECAC Men's East ice hockey action Saturday afternoon (Jan. 24) at the Harold Alfond Forum. The win gave the Nor'easters (7-11-1, 5-7-1 ECAC East) a split of their league weekend play.The Purples Knights (6-10-2, 4-7-1) fell for the eighth time in their last nine starts. After Saint Michael's had rallied from a 3-0 first-period deficit to tie the game, Pearl sent Big Blue home a winner when he stuffed home the puck from the left doorstep after receiving a feed from senior Jared Melman (San Jose, Calif.) in the closing seconds. Pearl's first career hat-trick pushed his team-leading goal total eight. Pearl scored twice in the opening 9:25 of the contest to give UNE a 2-0 cushion. His first marker came from the low slot, as he one-timed a centering pass from sophomore Trevor Fleurent with a secondary assist by junior Tom Gildersleeve. Pearl's second goal came as he finished off a play from the right edge of the crease after a scramble in front of the cage. Once again, it was linemates Fleurent and Gildersleeve who set-up the play. The Nor'easters would make it 3-0 at 15:19 of the frame when senior Zeth Zielinski potted a wrister from the right circle. Sophomore Nick Wirth and senior Patrick Borer assisted on the power-play goal. UNE outshot the Purple Knights 10-4 over the opening 20 minutes to help build its three-goal bulge. Saint Michael's rebounded in the second to score twice while leading 17-7 in shots on goal. Sophomore Anthony Maiuri notched his first collegiate goal at 13:48, tipping in a slap shot by classmate Stephen Inman. Sophomore Josh Dickman followed less than four minutes later, stuffing home a rebound from a crowd at the top of the crease. Maiuri had put the shot on goal, and senior Jeremy Wong earned the other assist on the play. The Purple Knights tied the score at 3-3 at 11:29 of the third when junior Kevin Altidor (Montreal, Quebec) re-directed a shot from the high slot by senior John Teulings. Senior AJ Pieprzak found Teulings to get the play started. Senior Colby Drost had 33 saves for the Nor'easters, who converted 2 of 8 power-play opportunities, compared to an 0-for-7 showing for Saint Michael's, which held a 36-22 advantage in shots on goal. Senior starting goaltender Dave Donzanti played the opening 15:19 and recorded five saves while surrending three goals for the Purple Knights. Junior Michael Cominiti came on to make 13 stops in 44:41 of playing time. Both teams return to action next Friday. UNE plays at the University of Southern Maine, while Saint Michael's hosts Saint Anselm College.