Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Senior Hannah Tavella scored a pair of goals early in the 2nd half to break open a one-goal game and help the University of New England blank Nichols College, 4-0, in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) field hockey action Saturday afternoon (Oct. 26) at the Big Blue Turf.

At 10-0 in CCC play, the Nor'easters (12-5) have clinched the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. UNE has a two-game cushion over Gordon College (8-2 CCC) with two dates left in the regular-season schedule, and Big Blue captured both meetings against the Fighting Scots this year.

The Bison saw their four-game winning streak snapped with the loss, and settle on 6-11 overall (6-5 CCC).

It was the fifth straight win with a clean sheet for the Nor'easters, who are going on more than 364 minutes of scoreless defense.

UNE had the majority of the scoring chances in the early going, but it wasn't until the 31st minute that the hosts finally got on the board. After receiving a pass in the middle, senior Casey Clark pushed the ball towards the left post to where junior Erin Bibber was present for the tip-in.

Nichols put together a flurry of opportunities just past the midway point of the opening period, but first-year goalie Holly Smith was up to the task for UNE, recording all six saves during the frame in a matter of minutes. She ended the day with seven.

Following halftime, Big Blue assumed full control of the match, as Tavella sent in close-range shots in the 38th and 40th minutes to bump the lead to 3-0. The senior midfielder first collected a bouncing ball through traffic and found a wide-open net, with the assist coming off the stick of junior Beth Sullivan. Moments later, UNE worked a penalty corner around the horn and junior Hannah Warren connected with Tavella just off the left edge of the cage. The shot from Tavella was slotted near-post. 

In the 50th minute, Clark capped the scoring with an individual effort on the right side that led to a backhanded push into the net. Clark, Tavella, and Bibber now have 10 goals apiece on the season.

Shots (22-2) and corners (15-0) were decidedly in favor of the Nor'easters during the 2nd stanza.

Junior Molly Melanson did well to keep the final margin at four, posting 20 saves for the Bison. Nichols concludes the regular season on Wednesday (7 p.m.) at Gordon.

UNE hosts Endicott College the same evening (6 p.m.).