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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Vonde Saunders recorded a hat trick to pace the University of New England in a 5-0 field hockey victory over the University of Southern Maine on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 6) at the Big Blue Turf.

The Nor'easters (11-2), who remained just outside of the latest Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III Top 20 Poll (the second team also receiving votes) earlier in the week, are now 9-3 all-time against the Huskies (5-8).

Saunders broke open a scoreless contest in the 27th minute, stuffing home a rebound off her own shot. Similarly, Nicole Matarozzo scored just 2:10 later to double the cushion, and Saunders wasted little time (1:12) upping the margin to three with a goal off a feed from Olivia Madore.

In the 42nd minute, Madore helped Hannah Buckley find her way into the scoring column, and then Madore tallied a third assist of the game as Saunders put in her third marker in the 50th minute. Saunders leads Big Blue with 13 goals on the season.

Holly Smith recorded two saves to backstop the shutout for UNE, with the aid of a defensive save by Kersey Boulay down the stretch in the 2nd half.

For Southern Maine, which was out-shot by a 19-4 spread, Amanda Kasbohm turned away six shots and Elizabeth Amadei had five saves in equal action.

The Nor'easters are off until Wednesday (7 p.m.), when they visit Endicott College for a clash of the top two teams (UNE 6-0, EC 5-1) in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).

The Huskies are scheduled to travel to Framingham State University on Saturday (2 p.m.).