Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Nov. 3) – The third-seeded University of New England Nor'easters defeated second-seeded Nichols College, 2-1, in the semifinal round of the The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship Tournament Wednesday afternoon at Michael J. Vendetti Field. With the victory, the Nor'easters advance to the TCCC Championship game on Saturday, November 6 to face the winner of fourth-seeded Western New England College and the top seed New England College at the site of the highest remaining seed.

Nichols dips to 13-5 on the season and awaits a possible postseason tournament berth. The Nor'easters improve to 12-6.

UNE converted on its sixth corner of the opening stanza to take a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute when Laura Egouni received the ball from Hannah Tavella and fired high into the net.
Nichols had an opportunity in the 25th minute with a penalty corner, but senior MaryKate Frodema's (Springfield, Mass.) attempt was denied when UNE keeper Ayla Nelson sidestepped to thwart the high shot.

With a quick transition, Nichols attacked the net with a high shot in the 41st minute, but Leah Tustin had a stand-up defensive save at the line on a wild shot by Emily Widdison (Greenfield, Mass.).

The Bison used the momentum of four consecutive corners to knot the game in the 46th minute when Frodema swept in her own rebound after firing off a corner collected by Widdison.

But four minutes later the Nor'easters took the lead for good when Casey Clark swept the ball across the netfront to Bree Tupper, who was waiting at the back post to knock it in.

Nelson made five stops in the win and benefitted from three defensive saves from her teammates. Nichols goalkeeper Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) finished with three saves.

UNE held a 12-10 advantage in penalty corners, with a 7-2 first half lead. Nichols maintained an 18-17 overall advantage in shots.

Box Score -- coming soon