DUDLEY, Mass. --
Corinne Ramunno racked up five points in a matter of five minutes late in the 3rd period to lead the University of New England field hockey team to a 3-1 Conference of New England (CNE) triumph at Nichols College on Friday (Sep. 18) at Vendetti Field.
The Nor'easters (2-4, 1-1 CNE) trailed for more than 17 minutes of game action until the 40th minute, when
Alexa Caccamo setup the game-tying goal off a quick restart just outside the circle. The push through a defender was chased down by Ramunno, who squeezed the first touch around another defender and between the legs of Bison goalie Fallyn Belisle.
Two minutes later, Ramunno tried to center the ball from the right side but Belisle kicked it back. Ramunno reset and flipped it into the crease where
Emma Shuman stepped around a defender and batted it five-hole for the go-ahead marker.
In the waning ticks of the frame,
Josie Johnson sent a desperation ball into the middle from the left side and it hopped all the through to Ramunno, who trapped it on the backhand, spun, and fired it inside the right post.
Ramunno's point and goal totals were one shy of matching the rookie program records in a game, and marked season-highs by any UNE player. The tally by Shuman was the first of the year for the senior captain, who also recorded a defensive save on the other end in the 4th.
Riley Curtin made three stops to backstop the win for the Nor'easters, who generated a 32-10 advantage in total shots (16-5 on goal) and 11-3 spread in penalty corners.
Belisle wound up with 12 saves for Nichols (3-3, 1-1), which moved in front during the 23rd minute on a score by Emma Bianculli. Katherine Hearn helped the hosts keep UNE from scoring sooner with a defensive save at the left post in the 2nd quarter.
The Nor'easters are back in Biddeford on Tuesday (6 p.m.) for a non-league date with Wellesley College.
