University of New England Athletics

Statistics
Photos

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England field hockey struck for three goals in the final 6:51 to pull out a 4-1 triumph against Husson University at Blue Bolt Field on Wednesday (Oct. 21).

The Nor'easters were getting out-shot (13-9) and out-cornered (7-5) just past the midway mark of the 4th quarter, but made their last three shots count to take the lead in the place it mattered most. The go-ahead tally came from Ava Wolverton, crashing the net front for a loose ball after Chloe Michaud saved possession on the right sideline and smashed a cross that skipped off a defender's stick and the goalie's pads. It fell right into Wolverton's path for the one-touch backhand finish [Watch].

UNE then converted a penalty corner chance in the 55th minute, when Ella Reeves sent a missile from the top of the circle into the left side of the cage for her team-leading seventh goal of the year [Watch]. Kate Kelso, with the insert, collected the assist. Kelso still had time to get her name into the goal column, too, inside two minutes remaining. Ayla Lagasse stole the ball in the midfield, took a quick restart after a foul, and reached the circle before feeding it in front for Kelso, who turned and batted the second touch home for the score [Watch].

"I thought we had great tempo from start-to-finish today, but were really able to turn it on in the 4th. It was great to see it all connect in the last 15 minutes," commented UNE head coach Danielle Collins. 

Riley Curtin logged five of her seven saves during the 3rd and 4th periods to keep the Nor'easters (8-8) in it under the growing Husson pressure. The Eagles (4-9) registered six of the game's eight corners after halftime.

Each side had just one shot and no corners in the 1st frame, and then UNE edged ahead in the 24th minute on the first collegiate goal by Josie Johnson. A restart on the 25 yard line was directed backwards for Reeves to drill into the circle, and a defender stopped it just outside the crease but couldn't fully control the ball. Johnson snagged it from underneath the defender on the right side and slotted it just past the legs of the keeper [Watch].

It only took the visitors 91 seconds to level things on the scoreboard, though, as Tessa Capozzoli settled a corner insert outside the top of the circle and passed it left to Faith Tillotson for a shot inside the near post.

Ella Duchette had four saves for Husson over the initial 36 minutes of action.

The Nor'easters close out their Conference of New England (CNE) slate on Saturday at Western New England University. UNE (4-2 CNE), with at least a first-round home game already secure, currently sits one game back of the Golden Bears (5-1) in the standings.