Nor'easters stun Seahawks in CCC quarterfinal

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Dan Auger (Nashua, N.H.) scored with 0:03 remaining to cap a furious University of New England comeback and give the Nor'easters a 14-13 win over Salve Regina University in a Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship opening-round match Saturday afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

Fourth-seeded UNE (11-7) advances to Wednesday's semifinal round and will travel to top-seeded Western New England University. The Seahawks end their season with a mark of 11-7.

Trailing 13-11 with under three minutes remaining, the Nor'easters stormed back for victory. Auger set-up Mitch Mullin (Cumberland, Maine) to cut the deficit to one with 2:49 on the clock, and then UNE notched the equalizer just over a minute later when Mullin spotted Alex Zadworny (Florence, Mass.), who ripped a shot from 10 yards out. 

After the Seahawks were assessed a penalty with 0:10 on the clock, UNE took advantage, working the ball quickly behind the cage to Andrew Curro (Niskayuna, N.Y), who spotted Auger open to the right of the cage. Curro connected with Auger, and Auger took a couple of steps before shooting high into the net.

Sean Conger (Holden, Mass.) won the ensuing face-off just as time expired, sending the Nor'easter bench onto the field in frenzied celebration.

Curro had four goals to lead all UNE players. Auger finished with a pair of markers and three assists. Zadworny chipped in two goals.

Andrew Fera (Cranston, R.I.) and Sharp Jones (Scituate, R.I.) each tallied four goals to pace the Seahawks' attack. Alex Makoske (Shoreham, N.Y.) scored twice, and Nick LoCicero (Lynbrook, N.Y.) contributed a goal and three assists.

The game was a contest of two distinct halves. Salve Regina dominated much of the first 30 minutes, leading 5-2 after one quarter and 8-5 at intermission. Jones and Fera combined for seven goals, and the Nor'easters were hampered by 17 turnovers. 

UNE would get going midway through the third quarter, however, outscoring SRU 6-1 over a stretch of 15 minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters. The Nor'easters would commit just two miscues in the third and five in the fourth to help them rally. UNE's only lead of the day came on Auger's game-winner.

David Pearson (Scarborough, Maine) allowed just five second-half goals to earn the win. He and John Dusel (Wilbraham, Mass.) split time in goal and combined for nine stops. Sam Coburn (West Simsbury, Conn.) led all players with seven ground balls for UNE. Auger and Conger had 11 between them.

Matt D'Amore (Duxbury, Mass.) totaled 11 saves for the Seahawks, while Frank Russo (Scituate, Mass.) played a strong defensive game with four caused turnovers and three ground balls.