Box Score

CASTLETON, Vt. -- Senior Erin Bibber scored the first three goals of the contest and the University of New England never looked back, registering a 7-1 non-conference field hockey victory over Castleton State College on Saturday evening (Sep. 6) at Spartan Stadium.

After two in the 1st half (6th and 29th minutes), Bibber made it a career-high hat trick less than two minutes into the 2nd period. It marks the first three-goal performance by a UNE player since in the last 41 games.

Big Blue (2-1) continued to pour it on with goals from senior Beth Sullivan (44th minute), sophomore Nicole Matarozzo (50th), senior Hannah Warren (53rd), and first-year Becky Zakorchemny (56th). Sullivan and Matarozzo also tallied assists in the contest.

The Spartans (0-2) got on the board at the 44:29 mark courtesy of Briana Bocelli.

Sophomore Holly Smith posted two saves for the UNE decision. The visitors out-shot their opponents by a 24-5 margin while matching their highest goal output since the 2010 season (77 games).

Castleton State received five stops from Jess Galatioto in goal. The Spartans next host Plymouth State University on Wednesday.

The Nor'easters are off until next Saturday (Sep. 13), when Nichols College comes to Biddeford to open up Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play.

High-scoring affairs between UNE and CSC have occurred frequently over the years, as the two have combined for 66 goals in 11 all-time meetings (6-5 in favor of Castleton). The winning team's scoring average in the series now stands at 4.3 per game.