Nor'easters end Seahawk streak at 13

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- First-year defender Kersey Boulay (Liberty, Maine) netted a penalty stroke with 37 seconds remaining to give the University of New England a 3-2 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) triumph over Salve Regina University in the field hockey regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 31) at the Big Blue Turf.

With the result, the Nor'easters (14-6) secure the top seed for the upcoming CCC Championship with an 11-1 league record. The Seahawks (16-3), who edged UNE 1-0 back on September 26, lose for the first time in 14 outings and fall to 10-2 in the CCC.

It is the third straight regular-season conference title for Big Blue (fifth in program history) and third-year head coach Danielle Collins, whose squad has registered a 34-2 CCC ledger during her tenure.

The teams had played nearly 20 minutes even at two goals apiece before Boulay's winner -- her sixth marker of the year and fourth stroke in as many tries.

UNE never trailed during the contest, as Nicole Matarozzo (Wolfeboro, N.H.) opened the scoring with a rebound put-back in the 16th minute. Salve knotted things up in the 32nd minute, when Erin Gendreau (Sandwich, Mass.) sent a ball into the circle that bounced off a defender and directly to Alexisse Clinger (Nantucket, Mass.) on the left, who slipped a shot inside the near post.

Vonde Saunders (Conway, N.H.) made it 2-1 in favor of the hosts in the 39th minute, tipping one around the goalie after Matarozzo pushed a ball into middle towards the far post. The Seahawks pulled back level in the 50th minute, as Marissa Gagnon (Smithfield, R.I.) stuffed home a rebound at the left post.

Holly Smith (Peabody, Mass.) logged five stops for the Nor'easters, who led in shots (18-13) and corners (8-4).

Jessie Severino (Branford, Conn.) also posted five saves on the opposite end for the Seahawks, who are the second seed in the conference tournament and will host third-seeded Endicott College (8-4 CCC) on Wednesday (7 p.m.).

UNE will entertain fourth-seeded Roger Williams University (5-7 CCC) at 4 p.m. the same afternoon. Click HERE to view the CCC Championship bracket.