Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Chandler Solimine scored three times and assisted on another as Trinity College (Conn.) broke away from a scoreless game at halftime to a 4-0 field hockey victory over the University of New England on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 4) at the Big Blue Turf.

The Bantams move back above the .500 mark to 5-4 on the year, while the Nor'easters slip to 7-5.

UNE had slim advantages during the opening 35 minutes in both shots (7-4) and penalty corners (1-0), but neither team was able to get on the board. Big Blue goalie Holly Smith kept it that way in the middle of the period, denying a breakaway blast with a quick-reflex stab of her left hand pad.

Trinity increased the pressure right from the restart, and Solimine put the visitors ahead after just 49 seconds (36th minute), pushing one from in close that popped up over the goalie's pad and spun into the cage. Six minutes later (42nd minute), Solimine sent a ball down towards the middle and Clare Lyne hit it into the left side.

It was another 7:29 (50th minute) before Solimine extended the gap to 3-0, redirecting a drive from the right side by Olivia Tapsall into the upper left corner. Solimine capped her seven-point afternoon just three minutes later (53rd minute) with an uncontested finish right in front after Kelcie Finn delivered a hard pass on the run from the right endline.

The Bantams closed the contest with a 22-14 edge in shots and 8-4 in corners following the strong 2nd half.

Sophie Fitzpatrick preserved the shutout with 10 stops, aided by a Molly Reilly defensive save in the 64th minute. On the opposite end, Smith turned away 11 shots for UNE and got support from Alyssa Kowal with a defensive save in the 69th minute.

Trinity resumes its New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) schedule next Saturday with a visit from No. 2 Bowdoin College.

The Nor'easters get back to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action on Tuesday (6 p.m.) with a home date against Nichols College (0-5 CCC).