Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The University of New England field hockey team scored a pair of first-half goals, then held off a late Western New England University rally for a 2-1 Commonwealth Coast Conference victory Saturday (Oct. 13) under the lights at Golden Bear Stadium.

The Nor'easters remain perfect (8-0) all-time versus Western New England, while improving their season mark to 7-6 overall, 4-2 in conference play. The victory was also UNE's first this season away from the Big Blue Turf. The Golden Bears now stand at 5-10 (0-6 CCC).

The first goal of the match came at the 18:44 mark when junior Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) notched her fourth goal in the last two contests. Senior back Ashley Hickey (Gardiner, Maine) was credited with an assist on the play.

Big Blue made it 2-0 just before the half. Junior Casey Clark (Bethlehem, N.H.) set-up classmate Brittany Liptak (Westfield, Mass.), who found the cage with 4:16 remaining in the frame.

Western New England would make things interesting late when first-year Chelsea Hayes (Marston Mills, Mass.) scored her fifth goal of the year off a feed from senior Shelby Van Huysen (Killingworth, Conn.) with 5:47 on the clock.

The hosts were unable to come up with the equalizer, however, as the Nor'easters did not surrender a shot the remainder of the way.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Warren (Boscawen, N.H.) had three saves for the Nor'easters, who held comfortable margins in shots (18-4) and penalty corners (11-2).

Senior Kaitlyn Hall (Pawtucket, R.I.) turned aside 10 shots for Western New England.

UNE plays a key CCC match Wednesday (Oct. 17) at 6 p.m. when Endicott College comes to Biddeford.