Nor'easters hold on for 5-4 win over Seahawks

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Sophomore Casey Clark (Bethlehem, N.H.) notched a career-best four goals as the University of New England defeated Salve Regina University, 5-4, in Commonwealth Coast Conference field hockey action late Saturday afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

With the win, the Nor'easters (9-0) match the program's longest winning streak ever, and improve to 2-0 in CCC play. The Seahawks fall to 3-5 (0-2 CCC) with loss, and have dropped four straight to UNE.

Clark got things going early on, redirecting a shot off the stick of classmate Hayley LaPointe (Topsham, Maine) at the left post 3:13 in. Clark made it 2-0 in the 18th minute, putting home a rebound at the right post.

Salve Regina answered right back with two quick scores to level the match after nearly 24 minutes. Senior Samantha Dalton (Falmouth, Mass.) poked in a rebound at the 18:23 mark, before sophomore Lisa Bucci (Irvington, N.Y.) collected a feed from junior Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) and made a nice move in the middle as she slid one into the cage.

Big Blue would regain the advantage (3-2) with 1:05 to go in the opening half, as senior Michelle Oswald (Jay, Maine) knocked in a rebound on the right side. The Nor'easters managed a 27-7 cushion in shots during the frame, and were up 11-0 in penalty corners. Seahawks first-year goalie Murphy McCann (Westerly, R.I.) did well to keep the visitors in it, making 13 saves.

Clark continued her attack on goal 3:29 into the second period, getting behind the goalie to receive a pass from LaPointe and push a shot through.

Burke pulled Salve Regina back to within 4-3 at the 42:49 mark, cashing in on a rebound at the left post, only to see Clark register her fourth score of the contest 26 ticks later -- also on a rebound.

The margin was back to one (5-4) after just another 46 seconds, as Burke struck a hard shot on the run past the UNE goalkeeper. Bucci assisted on the play with a lead pass up the middle.

The remaining 24 minutes saw chances both ways, but neither team could break through again.

The Nor'easters ended with a 45-12 difference in shots, and 19-2 in penalty corners. McCann finished with 22 saves, while her counterpart, UNE first-year Kaitlyn Warren (Boscawen, N.H.) tallied five stops.

Big Blue visits the University of Maine Farmington on Wednesday for a non-conference affair beginning at 4 p.m., while the Seahawks are off for a week, returning to action next Saturday for a home CCC game against Endicott College (5 p.m.).

Courtesy of UNE Information