After losing to home-standing Connecticut 5-1 on Saturday, the University of Maine women’s hockey team knew a loss to UConn on Sunday would virtually end their Hockey East Tournament hopes.

Only the top four make it.

But the Bears rallied for a 2-1 win, outshooting UConn 36-16, to stay very much alive.

Maine is in fifth place with a 5-6-4 league record, four points behind UConn (9-7).

But Maine has played one fewer game and has the more favorable schedule.

Maine hosts last-place Vermont for a pair before traveling to sixth-place Boston University for two and hosting two against Boston College, tied for first with New Hampshire.

UConn entertains BC for one and then plays home-and-home series with New Hampshire and third-place Providence.

UNH is the nation’s No. 1-ranked team and PC is 10th.

Second-year Maine coach Guy Perron said he “wishes we were a little closer” to UConn in the standings but feels his team has a legitimate shot to overtake the Huskies.

“We needed one win down there and, fortunately, we got it,” said Maine coach Guy Perron. “Now it’s just a matter of being consistent and taking care of business. We’re in the driver’s seat [schedule-wise]. We can’t take any team lightly. And we’re going to need solid goaltending.”

Perron said special teams play will be another key.

“On Saturday, UConn had two power-play goals, two shorthanded goals, and we went 0-for-5 on the power play,” pointed out Perron, whose team scored Sunday’s winner on the power play.

“It took me a year to figure out that I needed to spend a lot more time on special teams,” said Perron.

Maine’s power play is operating at 21.3 percent efficiency while the penalty kill is 87.9 successful.

Maine continues to be led by the line of Brigitte Laflamme (14 goals, 11 assists) between Patricia Gagnon (5 & 5 in 7 games) and Sonia Corriveau (9 & 11) along with LW Vanessa Vani (11 & 7), center Cheryl White (10 & 6), and high-scoring defensemen Julie Poulin (6 & 17) and Kelly Law (5 & 17).

Rachel Gettings posted Sunday’s win in goal after Genevieve Turgeon played on Saturday. Perron said Turgeon may have been bothered by the effects of a concussion.