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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Nicole Matarozzo (CCC Offensive Player of the Year) and Vonde Saunders (CCC 1st Team) each recorded hat tricks to lead top-seeded University of New England past No. 3 Western New England University in the final of the 2016 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Field Hockey Championship on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5) at the Big Blue Turf.

For a third consecutive season, the Nor'easters (19-3) claim the CCC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship, which will begin on Wednesday. The bracket will be released on NCAA.com late Sunday evening.

It is the program's fourth league crown, following 2010, 2014, and 2015.

The hosts struck early and often, as Saunders put one on the board after just 42 seconds of the contest [Watch]. Kersey Boulay (CCC 1st Team) followed in the 4th minute with a penalty stroke, and Saunders found the back of the net again in the 14th minute to make it 3-0 [Watch]. Hannah Buckley (CCC 2nd Team) assisted both tallies by Saunders.

Matarozzo capped the 1st-half scoring in the 23rd minute, finishing a pass from Bridget Cavanaugh (CCC Rookie of the Year) [Watch].

The next two markers went for Matarozzo, as well, coming in the 42nd [Watch] and 48th minutes. As she upped the spread to 6-0 off a feed from Brooke Marshall, Matarozzo became UNE's career leader in goals with 52, surpassing the previous school-record held by three-year player Taryn Flagg '08.

Saunders wrapped up her six-point day just 74 seconds later (49th minute), with an assist going to Matarozzo [Watch].

Holly Smith (CCC Defensive Player of the Year) logged five saves in the opening frame, and played more than 64 minutes before giving way to Nicole Schena. Schena stopped two shots in the waning moments to preserve the shutout.

For Western New England (10-10), Grace Trupe turned away eight attempts in 55 minutes of action, while Samantha Krumpholz (CCC 2nd Team) and Brianna Gonyou supported with defensive saves.

The Nor'easters, who out-shot the Golden Bears by a 22-10 margin, are now unbeaten in 17 all-time matches between the teams. The result for Big Blue also establishes a new program record for single-season victories.

UNE's Danielle Collins, the CCC Coach of the Year, was thrilled by her team's performance. "It was great to be able to score so early and begin to dictate the tempo of the game, especially after the 1-0 result against them [Western New England] a few weeks ago. I am very proud of all 22 players we have and their impact both on- and off-the-field throughout the season. This has truly been a total team effort, and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for us."

Big Blue's high-powered attack notched seven goals in each CCC tournament match, giving the squad 96 on the year. Forty-one of those have been punched home by Saunders (22) and Matarozzo (19), who bounced back after being held scoreless in the same outing for just the third time in 2016 during Wednesday's semifinal.