Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Junior Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) tied the match with a late goal, then notched the game-winner in overtime to give the University of New England a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Nichols College in Commonwealth Coast Conference field hockey action Tuesday (Oct. 9) afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

The victory gets the Nor'easters back to the .500 mark at 6-6 overall, 3-2 in conference play. Nichols dips to 7-6, 3-2 in CCC matches. UNE has now won its last five meetings with the Bison.

With her team trailing late in regulation, Tavella notched her second marker of the contest with 2:01 remaining to force an extra period.

Neither team had a quality scoring chance in overtime until Tavella collected the rebound of her own shot that had been saved and stuffed the ball home to give Big Blue its second overtime triumph in the last three games.

After the two teams played to a 2-all draw in the first frame, Nichols senior Emily Widdison (Greenfield, Mass.) converted a penalty stroke in the 56th minute to give the Bison a 3-2 advantage. Widdison whistled the attempt just inside the left post for her team-leading 17th goal of the season. It would appear that would provide the win for the Bison until Tavella knotted the match in the closing stages of regulation.

The first half was back-and-forth, with each team gearing up the offense as the period progressed. Nichols junior Amanda Broughton (Plymouth, Mass.) opened the scoring 4:23 in when she converted a stroke by lifting the attempt over the blocker of UNE goalkeeper Kaitlyn Warren (Boscawen, N.H.).

UNE drew even at 18:52 on a penalty corner as Tavella took a pass from junior Hayley LaPointe (Topsham, Maine)
and converted a drive from just inside the circle.

The Nor'easters took the lead less than eight minutes later when LaPointe knocked home a rebound for her team-best eighth tally.

Nichols tied things up just before the half when sophomore Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) tipped in a drive by Widdison from the top of the circle.

For the match, UNE held a small advantage in shots (16-13), while the Bison took 13 corners compared to 12 for Big Blue.

Warren had six saves, and sophomore Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) stopped three shots for the Bison, who also received a pair of defensive saves from Broughton.

Each team returns to action with CCC games Saturday (Oct. 13). Nichols plays at Salve Regina University (5 p.m.), while the Nor'easters head to Western New England University (6 p.m.).


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