Big Blue cruises to 7-0 victory over Nichols

Recap, photo courtesy of University of New England

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England field hockey team did not allow any shots or penalty corners to Nichols College in a 7-0 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) win on Tuesday (Oct. 4) at the Big Blue Turf.

After seeing their seven-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, the Nor'easters improve to 10-2 overall and 6-0 through the first round of league play. Big Blue, which remained just outside of the latest National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Top 20 Poll (the second team also receiving votes) that was released earlier in the afternoon, has defeated the Bison (1-10, 0-6 CCC) in each of the last eight meetings.

UNE totaled a 37-0 shot cushion in the match, while registering all 17 penalty corners.

Four 1st-half goals came from Hannah Buckley, Kendra MacDonald, Vonde Saunders, and Marge Gardiner, spread out in the 5th, 15th, 27th, and 33rd minutes. Saunders and Buckley both tallied assists in the period, as did Nicole Matarozzo and Abbey Rouillard.

The hosts added three unassisted markers following halftime, as Kersey Boulay, Morgan Kelley, and Liz Clark found their way into the scoring column in the 39th, 57th, and 63rd minutes, respectively.

Holly Smith earned the goalie decision for UNE in 43 minutes of action. On the opposite end for Nichols, Brooke Misbach made 19 saves.

Both squads will have non-conference contests on Thursday (4 p.m.), with the Nor'easters hosting the University of Southern Maine and the Bison visiting Anna Maria College.