ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's soccer team defeated visiting New Hampshire  4-3 in penalty kicks to capture a victory in America East quarterfinal action on Thursday evening at Mahaney Diamond.

Noelle Leon-Palmer's penalty kick goal snapped a 3-3 PK tie and clinched the win for the Black Bears. Maine will now travel to take on #1 seed Hartford on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.

New Hampshire jumped out to a 1-0 lead with the game's first goal in the 17th minute. Brooke Murphy sent a free kick into the box which was headed by Nikki Sloan up and over Maine keeper Claudia Dube-Trempe.

The Black Bears knotted the score with a header of their own in the 63rd minute by Ashley Robinson. Maine's Kate Evans controlled the ball before sending a centering pass into the zone which found Robinson 8-yards out for a direct header into the back of the net.

Maine had a chance late as Evans ripped a shot on net with just 12-seconds remaining in regulation. However, New Hampshire keeper Mimi Borkan was able to leap and punch the ball up and over the crossbar, sending the game to overtime.

Early in the first overtime the Wildcats had their best chance when Murphy sailed a shot in from deep which hit the crossbar and bounced out of play.

The game would move through a second overtime and eventually be decided on penalty kicks.

Both team's capitalized on their first attempts before Dube-Trempe made a diving stop on New Hampshire's second kick. Vivien Beil cashed in on Maine's second attempt, giving the Black Bears a 2-1 advantage.

Dube-Trempe again made a save on the Wildcats' third try before Charlene Achille hit the back of the net on her attempt to put Maine up 3-1.

However, the Wildcats would make their next two attempts while Maine's fourth was missed. It all came down to Leon-Palmer, the fifth and final shooter for the Black Bears, who beat Borkan to propel Maine to the victory.

Maine will meet Hartford in America East semifinal action on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.

-UMaine-