Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. -- Behind a 50th-minute goal by junior Bree Tupper (Winthrop, Maine), the third-seeded University of New England Nor'easters defeated second-seeded Nichols College, 2-1, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Field Hockey Championship semifinals played Wednesday afternoon at Vendetti Field.

Big Blue (12-6) advances into Saturday's title match -- the first appearance in program history -- and will face No. 1 New England College (a 3-1 come-from-behind winner over fourth-seeded Western New England this evening). The two teams met once during the regular season -- in the conference opener -- with the Pilgrims taking a 3-1 road win.

After Bison senior MaryKate Frodema (Springfield, Mass.) put back a rebound off her own shot to tie things at 1-1 with 25 minutes to play, UNE took back the lead for good 4:30 later. First-year Casey Clark (Franconia, N.H.) crossed a pass through the middle that found Tupper at the far post, where the junior recorded the game-winner on her 12th marker of the season.

UNE, which had lost four of the last five meetings against Nichols (including a 4-0 setback on Oct. 23), held its own early on. For the first half, the Nor'easters finished with an 11-7 edge in shots and a 7-2 cushion in penalty corners.

Senior Ayla Nelson (Auburn, Mass.) kept the match scoreless in the 25th minute, turning away a penalty stroke attempt by Frodema.

The visitors got on the board in the 32nd minute on one of those corners, when sophomore Laura Egounis (Boscawen, N.H.) took the initial pass from first-year Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) and notched her third goal in as many games.

Nelson ended with five saves, and received some help down the stretch from sophomore Ashley Hickey (West Gardiner, Maine), who had a defensive save. Egounis and sophomore Leah Tustin (Derry, N.H.) also posted defensive saves earlier in the match.

For the Bison (13-5), who will now await word on a possible ECAC Championship bid, junior goalie Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) made three stops.


Updated: 11/3/2010 6:45 PM