Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine - The Nichols College field hockey team was defeated at the University of New England 4-0 Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action at the Big Blue Turf.

Senior Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) scored a pair of goals early in the second half to break open a one-goal game and keep UNE (12-5, 10-0 CCC) perfect in conference play. The Bison saw their four-game winning streak snapped with the loss and slipped to 6-11 (6-5 CCC).

It was the fifth straight win with a clean sheet for the Nor'easters, who are going on more than 364 minutes of scoreless defense.

UNE had the majority of the scoring chances in the early going, but it wasn't until the 31st minute that the hosts finally got on the board. After receiving a pass in the middle, senior Casey Clark (Franconia, N.H.) pushed the ball towards the left post to where junior Erin Bibber (Charlton, Mass.) was present for the tip-in.

Nichols put together a flurry of opportunities just past the midway point of the opening period, but freshman goalie Holly Smith (Peabody, Mass.) was up to the task for UNE, recording all six saves during the frame in a matter of minutes. She ended the day with seven.

Following halftime, Big Blue assumed full control of the match, as Tavella sent in close-range shots in the 38th and 40th minutes to bump the lead to 3-0. The senior midfielder first collected a bouncing ball through traffic and found a wide-open net, with the assist coming off the stick of junior Beth Sullivan (Cumberland, R.I.).

Moments later, UNE worked a penalty corner around the horn and junior Hannah Warren (Harrison, Maine) connected with Tavella just off the left edge of the cage. The shot from Tavella was slotted near-post. 

In the 50th minute, Clark capped the scoring with an individual effort on the right side that led to a backhanded push into the net.

Shots (22-2) and corners (15-0) were decidedly in favor of the Nor'easters during the second stanza.

Junior Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) did well to keep the final margin at four, posting 20 saves for the Bison. Junior Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) led Nichols with three shots.

Nichols concludes the regular season at Gordon on Wednesday at 7 p.m. UNE hosts Endicott Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Story courtesy of UNE sports information