MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- Erin Nicholas deposited a pair of 1st-quarter goals and finished with three as Middlebury College lived up to its top-billing with a 5-0 field hockey decision versus the University of New England on Sunday afternoon (Sep. 12) at Kohn Field.

The three-time reigning national champions improve to 3-0 on the young season, while the second straight setback to a NFHCA top-7 opponent, after defeating No.16 MIT, bumps the Nor'easters back to 2-2 overall.

UNE held Middlebury scoreless for 23 minutes after Nicholas' second marker. Katie George added to the margin in the 3rd, and Nicholas completed the hat trick off a second assist from Amy Griffin in the 42nd minute. Hanna Medwar tacked on one more in the final stanza.

Panthers goalie Grace Harlan stopped the five shots that came her way, as the Nor'easters were held off the board for the first time this year. On the UNE end, Lindsay Pych recorded 10 saves through 45 minutes of work, and Dawn DeWeese-Moss denied one in the 4th. Middlebury racked up a 40-6 advantage in shot attempts and 11-3 cushion in penalty corners.

The Nor'easters will open their home slate on Wednesday (6 p.m.) when No.12 Babson College comes into Biddeford.