Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Third-seeded University of New England got a goal from sophomore Laura Egounis (Boscawen, N.H.) just 1:08 after No. 6 Gordon College leveled things at 1-1 in the second half to put the hosts back in front and send Big Blue to a 3-1 The Commonwealth Coast Conference Field Hockey Championship victory in first round action Saturday afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

The Nor'easters (11-6) advance into the semifinal round for the second straight season, and will play at second-seeded Nichols College on Wednesday (1:30 p.m.). The Bison defeated UNE in that semifinal contest last year (3-1), and won this year's meeting during the regular season (4-0).

Senior Michaela Franey (York, Maine) opened the scoring in the 4th minute with her 21st goal of the season, off an assist from first-year Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.). Tavella started the play by inserting a penalty corner to Franey, and after a give-and-go pass around a defender, Franey drove a shot inside the near post.

UNE finished the opening frame with an 11-3 advantage in shots and a 12-5 cushion in penalty corners, but the lead was still 1-0 at the break.

Gordon first-year Melanie Landis (Quakertown, Pa.) tied the match at the 46:46 mark, tipping-in a drive from sophomore Melinda Fowler (Winslow, Maine) at the right post.

Egounis answered right back for the Nor'easters, as a string of quick passes around the circle found the sophomore at the left post. First-year Casey Clark (Franconia, N.H.) registered an assist on the play.

Junior Bree Tupper (Winthrop, Maine) added an insurance goal in the 67th minute, pushing a shot between two defenders on the goal line after classmate Michelle Oswald (Jay, Maine) dribbled all the way up the right sideline to the post and slipped it across to Tupper.

Senior Ayla Nelson (Auburn, Mass.) made five saves, as UNE topped the Fighting Scots for the fourth time in the last five meetings between the teams.

For Gordon, which concludes its season with a 6-14 overall mark, first-year goalie Anna Bury (Huntington, Md.) posted eight stops.


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