Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Senior forward Emily Kuchta (Norwalk, Conn.) broke a scoreless tie with a pair of goals in the opening 14:48 of the second half, as the New England College field hockey team picked up its first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over the University of New England in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference mutual-opener Saturday at the Big Blue Turf.

After neither team was able to find the back of the cage in the opening frame, Kuchta tallied back-to-back goals 7:51 apart in the early stages of the second half. Senior Marisa Ayotte (Feeding Hills, Mass.) assisted on both goals.

Ayotte would push NEC's lead to 3-0 at the 57:57 mark off a feed from classmate Samantha Escobar (Rumney, N.H.).

Senior midfielder Michaela Franey (York, Maine) prevented the Nor'easters from being shut out, banging home her sixth goal of the year with 4:07 remaining. 

First-year goalkeeper Melissa Mower (Bangor, Maine) was busy for the Pilgrims. She made 12 saves, including nine after halftime. Her counterpart, senior Ayla Nelson (Auburn, Mass.), recorded nine stops for the Nor'easters, who held a 22-13 advantage in shots and 11-6 cushion in penalty corners.

UNE (2-2, 0-1 TCCC) returns to action Tuesday with a 4 p.m. non-conference home match versus St. Joseph's College. NEC (1-3, 1-0) heads to Castleton State on Wednesday. Start time is slated for 4 p.m.