Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Oct. 25) – University of New England senior forward Senior forward Hayley LaPointe scored what proved to be the game-winning goal just over 11 minutes into the game as the Nor'easters narrowly defeated Nichols College, 2-1, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference game Tuesday evening on Vendetti Field. UNE improves to 8-1 in CCC games, and 16-1 overall. Nichols evens out at 4-4 in conference play, and 8-7 overall.

LaPointe put the Nor'easters on the board on UNE's first shot of the game – and just the second for either team. After a free hit from 20 yards out on the far side bounced off of several players as it headed toward the arc, LaPointe corralled it on the right side of the cage and swept it into the far left for the lasting advantage.

With only seven shots combined in the first half and five penalty corners, the game flowed evenly back and forth from end to end in the opening stanza. UNE first-year goalkeeper Kaitlyn Warren made four saves in the half, while her counterpart, first year Molly Melanson stopped two of the three shots she faced.

Senior forward Michelle Oswald found herself on a breakaway down the far side within the first six minutes of the second half. She curled in as a teammate strode along to her right, but instead, shuffled it past Melanson for the 2-0 lead in the 41st minute.

Junior Emily Widdison cut UNE's lead in half with less than six minutes to play when after her first attempt at centering the ball was swiped away, she gathered it back and sent a low-angle shot back toward the net. It deflected off a UNE defender and straight into the goal.

The goal sparked the Bison to attack, as they had several opportunities late. One shot off a corner by Barbara Roy was tipped inches wide, while Widdison had a late attempt thwarted by Warren and another slip wide.

Warren finished with five saves, while Melanson stopped seven shots, including five in the second half. There were only seven combined shots on net in the game and 24 overall. The two teams also combined for a mere nine penalty corners: four for UNE and five for the host Bison.

Nichols is back in action on Thursday evening in a 7 p.m. rescheduled CCC game at Western New England. University of New England hosts MIT Wednesday at 6 p.m. for a non-conference game.

Box Score