Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England field hockey team scored four times in the final 20 minutes to break open a tie game for a 6-2 non-conference victory over Husson University Wednesday evening (Sep. 5) at the Big Blue Turf.

UNE evens its record at 1-1 with the triumph, which was the third straight in the all-time series with the Eagles (2-1).

Just moments after Husson junior Sabrina Vaillancourt (Newport, Maine) notched her second marker of the day with 21 minutes remaining in the second half off a pass from sophomore Melissa Souza (East Bridgewater, Mass.), the Nor'easters went in front for good (3-2) with 19:10 left in the contest. UNE junior Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) sent a shot through a crowd in front that was tipped home by senior Emily Koehler (Pelham, N.H.) at the left post.

Big Blue sophomore Erin Bibber (Charlton, Mass.) added some insurance in the 54th minute, with an assist coming from senior Ashley Hickey (West Gardiner, Maine), and Tavella made it 5-2 in the 64th minute, deflecting in a shot at the right post off a drive from senior Laura Egounis (Boscawen, N.H).

UNE capped the scoring with under two minutes to play when junior Hayley LaPointe (Topsham, Maine) converted a fast break feed from classmate Casey Clark (Bethlehem, N.H.).

To start the game, LaPointe got the hosts on the board first during the opening frame, scoring an unassisted goal 6:51 into the match.

After Vaillancourt leveled things at 1-1 six minutes later, Big Blue sophomore Hannah Warren (Harrison, Maine) connected on a pass from junior Kelsea Beisaw (Jay, Maine) with 7:27 to go in the period, giving the hosts a 2-1 edge at halftime.

Though UNE out-shot the Eagles in the half (11-6), Husson maintained a 6-3 advantage in penalty corners. For the contest, the shots were 27-11 in favor of the Nor'easters, while corners were 11-10 for the visiting squad.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Warren (Boscawen, N.H.) turned aside three shots for Big Blue, which plays the second of six consecutive home games on Sunday against Babson College (1 p.m.).

Husson, which received 13 saves from first-year goalkeeper Maicee Gustin (Dexter, Maine), next visits Salisbury University (Md.) on Saturday (11 a.m.).