Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine - Junior Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) made 15 saves in Nichols College's 5-0 loss at the University of New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinal round action Wednesday afternnoon at the Big Blue Turf.

The Bison complete their season 6-13. They were outshot 36-4 and received two shots each from junior and CCC Second Team selection Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) and sophomore Meghan Dombkowski (Sagaponack, N.Y.).

Nichols trailed 1-0 at the half before the Nor'easters (15-5) exploded for four goals in the opening 16:57 of the second half to put the game away.

Five different student-athletes scored as University of New England recorded its eighth-straight win and 12th in the last 13 outings to earn a spot in Saturday's CCC Championship game for the third time in four seasons. The Nor'easters will host No. 2 Gordon College (which defeated Endicott College, 2-1) for a 1 p.m. match.
 
UNE went right on the attack from the opening whistle, and a violation by the Bison defense in the crease gave a penalty stroke opportunity to the hosts with 1:47 gone. Senior Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) stepped up and found space just inside the left post for the first goal of the day. 
 
The margin was still one at the end of the first half despite UNE racking up 18 shots to just three for Nichols. Melanson made seven stops in the period to keep things close, including a save on another penalty stroke try in the 25th minute.
 
Big Blue continued to control possession after halftime and got some insurance in the 46th minute when junior Erin Bibber (Charlton, Mass.) re-directed a drive off the stick of senior Brittany Liptak (Westfield, Mass.) into the back of the cage. Just 47 seconds later, senior Hayley LaPointe (Topsham, Maine) made it 3-0 from the left endline, converting a feed out of the middle from classmate Casey Clark (Franconia, N.H.).
 
Clark added her team-leading 15th marker of the year in the 52nd minute, collecting a loose ball on the right side and slotting a shot near-post. Sophomore Haley Pelletier (Rome, Maine) capped the scoring with just under four minutes to play, taking a long cross from Bibber on the left side and blasting a shot from the top of the circle inside the left post.
 
Freshman Holly Smith (Peabody, Mass.) needed to make just one save for the Nor'easters in triumph, giving her a program single-season record eighth shutout of the season.

Contributions from UNE sports information