Box Score
Post-Game Interview

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Senior Erin Bibber and first-year Vonde Saunders each scored a pair of goals to help lead the University of New England field hockey team to a 6-0 shutout of Roger Williams University in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) match Saturday afternoon (Sept. 27) at the Big Blue Turf.

In a battle of second-place teams in the conference standings, the Nor'easters improved to 6-2 overall, 4-1 in CCC play. Roger Williams dropped to 6-5, 3-2 in league play.

UNE controlled from the outset and got on the scoreboard at the 15:35 mark when Saunders picked up her first collegiate goal, stuffing home a shot from close range.

Big Blue made it 2-0 just over six minutes later when Saunders sent a crossing pass to Bibber, who one-timed the feed into the cage for her team-best sixth marker.

Saunders notched her second goal of the afternoon 4:53 before the half, coming up with a Roger Williams' turnover and directing a shot just inside the left post.

UNE had a 12-1 advantage in shots and 4-0 margin in penalty corners prior to intermission.

The second half was much of the same, with the Nor'easters owning possession and scoring three more times. Bibber, first-year Alex Staples and senior Beth Sullivan did the honors for UNE. Bibber converted a rebound at 39:30, Staples tallied her first collegiate goal off a breakaway at 51:25, and Sullivan converted a penalty stroke with less than two minutes remaining.

Sophomore goalkeeper Holly Smith needed just one stop to record her 10th career shutout for UNE, while Roger Williams' sophomore Melora Lavoie had a busy afternoon, registering 13 saves. Sophomore Abby Treweek had a defensive save for the Hawks.

Big Blue boasted a 26-2 bulge in shots for the day, with a 11-1 difference in penalty corners.

Both teams return to action Tuesday. The Hawks host Salve Regina University for a CCC match starting at 7 p.m., while the Nor'easters entertain non-conference opponent Babson College at 6 p.m.


Watch the post-game interview with Erin Bibber and Vonde Saunders