Statistics

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Tania Evans put back a rebound with seven minutes remaining to lift Western New England University to a 1-0 Conferene of New England (CNE) field hockey result versus the University of New England at Golden Bear Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 24).

With the win, the Golden Bears (11-6, 6-1 CNE) wind up in a three-way tie for the regular-season title, and will be the second seed with a bye when the league championship starts next weekend. The Nor'easters (8-9, 4-3) settle on the No.4 line in the bracket with a first-round home game.

The hosts came out peppering UNE's Riley Curtin into five 1st-quarter saves, and then the visitors had the edge in shots (5-4) and penalty corners (4-1) during the 2nd stanza. Things tilted in favor of WNEU, but remaining scoreless, in the 3rd, putting all the marbles on the line in the 4th.

A corner sequence provided the ultimate difference, with Evans connecting off the bounce of a Curtin denial at the left post.

Alex Tardugno logged a six-stop shutout for the Golden Bears, while Curtin closed with 16 saves for the Nor'easters. Ella Reeves added a defensive save in the 1st period for the visitors.

UNE competes the regular season with a non-conference match on Tuesday at Wheaton College.

Next Saturday, the Nor'easters will be back in Biddeford for a 12 p.m. date with fifth-seeded Johnson & Wales University. The season meeting in September went to UNE, 3-0.