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Tristan Durgin

Boulay's penalty stroke in OT lifts UNE over Gulls


Box Score

BEVERLY, Mass. -- First-year defender Kersey Boulay notched her first collegiate goal in a penalty stroke in the ninth minute of overtime to give the University of New England a 3-2 victory over Endicott College in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) field hockey action Tuesday evening (Sep. 22) at North Field.

The Nor'easters (6-2, 3-0 CCC) remain as the only unbeaten squad in conference play after knocking back the Gulls (4-4, 2-1 CCC).

Endicott put the first shot on-target in the bonus period before Big Blue got a pair of corners and applied pressure with the next six shots prior to the stroke. EC goalie Rose Bradley made four of her 10 saves in the frame to hold the visitors off as long as she could.

UNE trailed 1-0 at the half, but received goals from Vonde Saunders (42nd minute) and Brooke Marshall (50th minute) to jump in front.

The lead lasted 4:25, though, as Sophia Cogliano redirected a push by Ashleigh Allen into the back of the net to even things up (2-2) for the Gulls.

Big Blue had the edge in offensive possession down the stretch, however could not end it in regulation.

Following a power outage delay of just over an hour at the start of the night, the opening stanza saw only the hosts go up on the scoreboard behind Olivia Larson's 17th-minute tally.

Holly Smith made five saves for the Nor'easters, who are slated to travel to Salve Regina University (1-1 CCC) on Saturday (1 p.m.). 

The teams that met for last season's league final have now played to a one-goal difference in five straight outings (4 UNE wins), three of which ended in extra time, including the 2014 title match (2OT).

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