Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Freshman Brianna Kilborn (North Brookfield, Mass.) scored her first collegiate goal as the Nichols College field hockey team fell to the University of New England 4-1 in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Saturday afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

The Bison drop their conference opener for the first time since the 2005 season when they lost 5-2 at Gordon.

Nichols (2-4, 0-1) was led by senior Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) and classmate Kaylee McNamara (Watertown, Mass.) with two shots while four other student-athletes posted shots.

Leading 1-0 coming out of halftime, the Nor'easters doubled the margin in the 50th minute when junior Haley Pelletier (Rome, Maine) corralled a Nichols clear attempt and dribbled into the circle and fed it to sophomore Nicole Matarozzo (Wolfeboro, N.H.), who turned and slotted a low shot into the right side.

Less than a minute later, Matarozzo gained control on the right side of the circle and slipped a pass behind the goalie to freshman Olivia Madore (Arundel, Maine) to tap into an open cage.

UNE made it 4-0 in the 53rd minute off a penalty corner, as senior Beth Sullivan (Cumberland, R.I.) launched a low shot from the top of the circle that deflected off a defender's stick and into the top left corner. Sophomore Desirae LeBlanc (Manchester, N.H.) and senior Hannah Cutting (Sebago, Maine) assisted on the play.

The Bison got on the board in the 55th minute when Kilborn collected a rebound near the right post and curled towards the end line before pushing one just inside the frame.

Senior Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) registered 11 saves in the loss and moves to 2-4 on the season. Sophomore Holly Smith (Peabody, Mass.) moves to 3-1 on the year after stopping four shots in the game.

The Bison host Roger Williams on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. The Nor'easters travel to Gordon on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

Contributions from UNE Sports Information