Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Sophomore Michelle Oswald (Jay, Maine) collected a rebound and fired a shot into the back of the cage 9:40 into the first overtime period to give the University of New England a 3-2 victory over sixth-seeded Endicott College in the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Field Hockey Championship Sunday afternoon.

The second-seeded Nor'easters (15-3) move on to the championship game and will host No. 8 Plymouth State University, a 3-0 winner over fourth seed Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The final will be Monday at 6 p.m. under the lights.

After playing to a 2-all tie at the end of regulation, the Gulls had a chance to win it on a penalty stroke 1:48 into the extra session, but the attempt sailed just wide.

UNE knotted the score at 2-2 in the 56th minute when sophomore Brianna Tupper (Winthrop, Maine) tipped home a drive by junior Michaela Franey (York, Maine).

Sophomore Lauren Atkinson (Southbury, Conn.) tallied her second goal of the day 10 minutes earlier to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Endicott out-shot the hosts 9-3 in the first half, but the score was 1-1 at intermission. Atkinson scored an unassisted goal at the 13:14 mark to put the Gulls in front, then Oswald set up senior Taryn Flagg (Livermore Falls, Maine) to draw the Nor'easters even in the 22nd minute.

Junior Ayla Nelson (Auburn, Mass.) turned away 10 shots for UNE, which defeated the only TCCC opponent it lost to during the regular season. Endicott topped the Nor'easters back on Sept. 26, 2-1.

First-year goalie Taylor Teixeira (Exeter, N.H.) made eight saves for the Gulls, who finish the season with a 12-9 mark.


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