Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. -- Nichols College tallied three first-half goals en route to a 4-0 The Commonwealth Conference field hockey victory over the University of New England in the TCCC regular-season finale Saturday at Vendetti Field.

With their fourth win the last five meetings between the two teams, the Bison improve to 12-4 overall (7-1 TCCC) and lock up the second seed and a first round bye in the upcoming TCCC Championship.

The Nor'easters (9-6), who were shutout for the second straight game, finish league play with a 6-2 mark and will will host a first round contest next Saturday (Oct. 30) as the tournament's No. 3 seed.

Junior Chelsea Correia (Seekonk, Mass.) opened the scoring in the 6th minute, and senior MaryKate Frodema (Springfield, Mass.) notched goals at the 21:46 mark and then another 1:21 later to provide a 3-0 halftime cushion.

Nichols held a 17-6 advantage in shots during the opening frame.

After UNE came up empty on five consecutive penalty corners midway through the second period, sophomore Barbara Roy (Springfield, Mass.) put home a 54th-minute goal to complete the scoring.

Junior Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) made six stops for the Bison, who host a non-conference match with Worcester State University Wednesday.

For the Nor'easters, who travel to Bridgewater State College for a non-conference game on Tuesday (7 p.m.), senior Ayla Nelson (Auburn, Mass.) registered 17 saves.

Big Blue will find out its opponent for the TCCC Championship when the official pairings are released later this weekend.