Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. -- Junior Hannah Warren scored a pair of goals to help lead the University of New England field hockey team to a 5-2 victory over Nichols College in a Commonwealth Coast Conference game Wednesday (Oct. 2) evening under the lights at Vendetti Field.

The win keeps the first-place Nor'easters perfect in CCC play with a 4-0 record, while getting them over the .500 mark for the season at 5-4. The Bison now stand at 2-9 in all matches, 2-3 in conference action.

Warren tallied a goal in each half to up her team-leading total to six. Senior Hannah Tavella, junior Erin Bibber and sophomore Alyssa Kowal had one goal apiece for the Nor'easters. Senior Hayley LaPointe dished out three assists to push her into a tie for second (23) with classmate Casey Clark on UNE's all-time list. Tavella added a pair of helpers and is now tied for fourth with 22 career assists.

Avery Orszulak scored both goals for Nichols.

Seeking redemption...got it

The Nor'easters' 5-2 win over Nichols avenged a bitter overtime upset loss in last season's CCC semifinal round. The all-time series between the two rivals now stands at nine wins apiece.

Warren got Big Blue on the scoreboard first, driving home a penalty corner insertion by Tavella 15 minutes into the contest.

After Orszulak converted a feed from Rachel Dalrymple three minutes later, Kowal put UNE ahead for good when her drive from outside the circle on a penalty corner deflected off a Bison defender into the cage at 26:47.

The Nor'easters took that 2-1 advantage into intermission, then stretched it to a two-goal margin just under six minutes into the second half. LaPointe made a crossing pass to Bibber, who pushed home a shot with the Nichols goalkeeper out of position.

UNE put the game out of reach with a pair of goals on penalty corners midway through the frame. Warren's shot found the five-hole at 51:32, then Tavella converted from in tight less than seven minutes later. LaPointe was credited with an assist on each marker.

Orszulak scored with just over five minutes remaining to complete the scoring for the evening.

First-year Holly Smith needed two saves to record the win for UNE, which led in shots (20-11) and penalty corners (16-10). Molly Melanson had eight stops for Nichols.

The Nor'easters travel to Beverly, Mass. on Saturday (Oct. 5) for a key showdown with two-time defending champion Endicott College. Start time is 1 p.m.