Statistics
David Bates Photo Gallery

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Meaghan Hogan put back a rebound off her own shot midway through double overtime to tip second-seeded Endicott College past No.1 University of New England, 1-0, in the 2021 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Field Hockey Championship Game on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 6) at Blue Bolt Field.

The teams had played nearly 75 minutes of nail-biting scoreless action before the deciding tally by Hogan (CCC 2nd Team). A kick save by Gulls goalie Taylor Farrin (CCC 2nd Team) started the play on the other end, and cleared out to Blake Braman (CCC 1st Team) on the left wing. Olivia Lampasona (CCC 2nd Team) did well to settle a big hit by Braman, in stride, and her second touch barely eluded a UNE defender to create a momentary 2-on-1 just inside midfield. Lampasona raced into the circle and slid a pass left in between defenders to Hogan, but Nor'easter netminder Lindsay Pych (CCC 1st Team) cut down all the angles to deny the first point-blank attempt. However, Hogan pulled the rebound out a little further and lifted a backhand over Pych's shoulder for the goal.

Endicott (13-6) claims its third consecutive final over UNE to earn the CCC's automatic bid into the 2021 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship, which begins Wednesday.

The Nor'easters (11-7), who were ranked second to Babson College in the NCAA Region I rankings entering the week, will have to hope for one of the seven at-large bids into the field when the bracket is announced late Sunday night.

The result was truly indicative of the intense rivalry between the programs. From the 35 meetings over the years, more than one-third (12) had gone past regulation time, and 23 finished with a difference of one score. All of the seven clashes in tournament finals (all in the last 10 seasons) have been one-goal games, and four have played out in overtime. Conference titles were 3-3 until Saturday, when the Gulls became the first road team to come away with the crown.

UNE had posted its largest margin of victory in the entire all-time series when the squads met during the only regular season down in Beverly three weeks ago, 5-0.

In the 3rd quarter, both sides needed clutch plays to keep things scoreless. First, it was Farrin leaping back to save an aerial shot by Kate Lindmark (CCC 2nd Team). Next, Nor'easter Lily Poor (CCC 2nd Team / Rookie of the Year) was inches away from putting the hosts ahead with a redirection that beat Farrin between the pads, but Gulls defender Claire Boncek (CCC 1st Team) stretched to swipe it off the line. Finally, on an Endicott corner, it was UNE's Julia Steeves (CCC 1st Team / Defensive Player of the Year) stopping a shot by Braman that was destined to find the inside of the far post.

Pych stoned a Lampasona one-timer from in close with less than five minutes to go in the 4th, getting enough of her shoulder on it with a dive to the right [Watch].

Fresh legs were at a premium once the first OT came around and the field opened up, and the most threatening moment in the middle of the stanza was stopped immediately by Boncek, who just barely got the tip of her stick in the way of what looked to be a promising cross towards an unmarked UNE player behind the defense. Early in the second OT, after Jillian Lachapelle (CCC 1st Team / Scholar-Athlete of the Year) sent a follow-up try just wide for a Nor'easter chance, Lauren Green (CCC 2nd Team) slid a quick stick in the way of Lampasona's big windup for a reverse shot.

Farrin ended with seven saves for Endicott, which held slim advantages in total shots (16-13) and corners (10-8).

For UNE, which had more shots on goal (8-6), Pych totaled four saves. The Nor'easters limited the the Gulls' top scoring threat, Sydney Poulin (CCC 1st Team / Offensive Player of the Year) to four shot attempts and none reaching the target.