Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England scored on three consecutive shots midway through the 2nd half to build on its one-goal cushion, leading to a 4-1 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) field hockey victory over Nichols College on Saturday afternoon (Sep. 13) at the Big Blue Turf.

Big Blue (3-1, 1-0 CCC) has now defeated the Bison (2-4, 0-1 CCC) in the last four contests between the teams, improving to 12-9 in all-time meetings.

Leading 1-0 coming out of halftime, the Nor'easters doubled the margin in the 50th minute when junior Haley Pelletier corralled a Nichols clear attempt on the left wing and dribbled into the circle and fed it to sophomore Nicole Matarozzo, who turned and slotted a low shot into the right side.

Less than a minute later, Matarozzo gained control on the right side of the circle and slipped a pass behind the goalie to first-year Olivia Madore to tap into an open cage.

UNE made it 4-0 in the 53rd minute off a penalty corner, as senior Beth Sullivan launched a low shot from the top of the circle that deflected off a defender's stick and into the top left corner. Sophomore Desirae LeBlanc and senior Hannah Cutting assisted on the play.

At the 54:44 mark, the Bison got on the board when first-year Brianna Kilborn collected a rebound near the right post and curled towards the end line before pushing one just inside the goal frame.

Shots in the game finished 28-8 in favor of the hosts. It was 17-3 in the opening period, with just one getting through off the stick of junior Alyssa Kowal in the 20th minute.

Sophomore Holly Smith made four stops for the Nor'easters, who visit Gordon College on Wednesday (4 p.m.). She denied two just moments apart in the early-going to keep things scoreless -- the first, a lunging kick-save off a drive from the top of the circle; the second, knocking it out of the air with her stick off a redirection.

For Nichols, which hosts Roger Williams University the same evening (7 p.m.), senior Molly Melanson turned in 11 saves.