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Nor'easters ground Gulls, 5-0, to claim CCC's top seed

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BEVERLY, Mass. -- Bailey Lynch and Kate Lindmark both had four-point afternoons as the University of New England ran up a 5-0 field hockey victory on Endicott College in a matchup of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) leaders on Saturday (Oct. 16) at North Field.

With a sixth consecutive triumph, the Nor'easters improve to 9-4 overall and 5-0 in league games. In the new single round robin format of the conference regular season, and with just one CCC outing remaining, the head-to-head over the Gulls (8-4, 3-1 CCC) means UNE secures the top seed in the upcoming championship.

The result also snaps a six-game skid against Endicott, which maintains the edge in the all-time series at 18-16. The five goals ties the most scored by either side in any of those contests, and marks UNE's largest win over the conference rival. The Gulls had come into the day averaging 3.8 goals per game in 2021, and had not been blanked since September of 2019.

After a 1st quarter that saw the few offensive opportunities all go for Endicott, the Nor'easters pinned the hosts in their defensive end for much of the 2nd behind a 7-2 advantage in penalty corners. The visitors converted on a pair of them, including on their first shot attempt, beginning with a Julia Steeves blast from the top of the arc in the 18th minute, off an insert by Lindmark. Lindmark also assisted on the second tally in the 27th minute, when Lynch drove one in from just left of center.

Lynch padded the cushion in the 34th minute, weaving through a couple defenders and releasing the shot just before EC goalie Taylor Farrin's attempt to clear the ball away. The two-goal performance was Lynch's first of her career. The goal also essentially marked the end of the day for Farrin, who recorded four stops.

Endicott gained momentum the rest of the 3rd and early in the 4th by taking the next seven shots around five corners, but could not solve the defensive scheme of the Nor'easters. Then, Jillian Lachapelle put things out-of-reach in the 51st minute, settling a high rebound in the crease and batting in UNE's fourth marker -- her team-leading ninth of the year.

Lindmark topped off the scoreboard in the 59th minute, finishing a rebound from a scramble in front.

Lindsay Pych denied the three shots that came on-target to post her fourth shutout in the UNE net. While total shots narrowly favored the Nor'easters (16-14), and the Gulls led in corners (11-9), UNE held a decided margin in shots on-goal at 13-3.

The Nor'easters get right back to work Sunday with a visit to No.7 Trinity College (Conn.).

Allison Wales made four saves for Endicott in relief of Farrin.