Box Score

BEVERLY, Mass. -- The University of New England field hockey team exploded for four second-half goals to break open a close match on its way to a 5-2 victory over Endicott College in a Commonwealth Coast Conference game Saturday (Oct. 5) afternoon at North Field.

The Nor'easters picked up their third straight win -- and fifth in the last six contests -- to improve to 6-4 while remaining unbeaten (5-0) in conference play. Endicott, the two-time reigning league champion, suffered its fourth consecutive setback to drop to 5-7 overall, 2-3 in CCC matches.

After the two teams struggled to find quality scoring opportunities early, UNE got on the scoreboard at the 17:31 mark when first-year Brooke Marshall converted a nice feed from senior Hannah Tavella. That would be all the scoring in the frame despite the Nor'easters holding a 13-3 advantage in shots.

Big Blue doubled its lead early in the second on a penalty corner. After senior Hayley LaPointe provided the stick stop on a Tavella insertion, junior Beth Sullivan found the cage with a drive from just inside the circle.

The Nor'easters continued to surge, pushing the score to 3-0 just three minutes later. Junior Erin Bibber took a pass from senior Casey Clark and slid it by the Endicott goalkeeper at the 40:24 mark.

A battle of CCC elite

UNE and Endicott have accounted for the last three CCC championships. The two rivals have split their last six meetings, including postseason play.

Endicott found the scoring column in the 44th minute when Stacie Teevens tucked a shot inside the right post, but Big Blue answered right back with consecutive tallies from Tavella and Haley Pelletier to push the lead to 5-1.

The Gulls' Meghan Leary completed the scoring with 7:37 remaining, making good on a feed from Emily Sawchuk.

UNE dominated the stat sheet with a commanding lead in shots (32-8) and penalty corner (17-4). First-year goalkeeper Holly Smith recorded two saves to up her record to 6-2.

Lizetta Solarik turned aside 16 shots for the Gulls.

The Nor'easters host Gordon College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a key CCC showdown. Big Blue edged the Fighting Scots, 1-0, back on Sept. 18 in Wenham, Mass.