Nor'easters overcome early deficit to defeat Salve Regina, 3-2

BIDDEFORD, Maine - After falling behind less than seven minutes into the contest, the University of New England registered the next three goals on the way to a 3-2 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) field hockey victory over Salve Regina University on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 3) at the Big Blue Turf.

The result leaves the Nor'easters (8-4, 5-1 CCC) in second place at the midway point of the league schedule. UNE has taken the last five meetings against the Seahawks, who drop back to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in CCC outings.

Kendra MacDonald (Lebanon, N.H.) tallied two goals for the hosts, with the first tying things up at 1-1 in the 21st minute, off an assist by Olivia Madore (Lyman, Maine). Vonde Saunders (Center Conway, N.H.) then put back a rebound in the 33rd minute to give UNE a 2-1 edge at the break.

The Nor'easters kept the pressure on following halftime, and MacDonald redirected a pass from Hannah Buckley (Leominster, Mass.) in the 54th minute for what proved to be the difference (3-1).

Salve Regina's goals came from Tori Bickel (Harleysville, Pa.) (7th minute) and Taylor Bulis (Lakeville, Mass.) (57th), with Ashley Cody (Pawling, N.Y.) assisting on both.

Second-period shots (15-4) and penalty corners (8-1) heavily favored UNE, and those categories ended at 21-7 and 12-2, respectively.

Liz Sargent (South Burlington, Vt.) logged three saves for the Nor'easters, while her counterpart from the Seahawks, Jessie Severino (Branford, Conn.), posted a dozen stops.