BRISTOL, R.I. – The fourth-seeded Roger Williams University Field Hockey team will seek their first berth in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Finals in program history when they travel to face off against the top-seeded University of New England on Thursday evening. After collecting their second win in CCC Tournament play in program history with a 5-0 win over Gordon College on Tuesday night, the Hawks advanced to the CCC Semifinals for the second consecutive season but will look to keep it going against the Nor'Easters.
 
"Tuesday's win means a lot to our program," Blackhurst said. "In our ninth season as a varsity sport at RWU, Tuesday's win marks the second time we have won a postseason game. This team continues to set the standard and commit to the process."
 
After finishing the regular season 2-4 against CCC opponents, RWU was a part of a three-way tie for fourth in the conference and with two spots available, they earned the top possible seeding by way of conference total goals against. They Hawks then dispatched Gordon to move to 9-8 on the season. On the other side, UNE has been dominant this season going 10-6 overall including a perfect 6-0 against conference competition to earn the top seed.
 
"We have continued to persevere in the face of adversity," Head Coach Kelly Blackhurst said. "The road has not always been easy for us, but we have continued to find a way. Having grit, poise, and the belief that we can is critical."
 
For The Hawks
Roger Williams features a balanced squad that ranks third in the Commonwealth Coast Conference in scoring offense, netting 3.0 goals per game to go with a 2.08 goals against average that ranks fourth in the CCC.
 
"We played a solid game both defensively and offensively Tuesday during the quarterfinals vs Gordon," Blackhurst stated. "We had a balanced attacking presence with five different players scoring."
 
Much of the Hawks offensive success this season stems from their ability to maintain pressure on opposing defenses as they have taken 18.5 shots per game overall this season, the second most in the conference, and that mentality to shoot first and ask questions later begins with their top scorer and All-CCC Second Team selection, Amelia Monahan (Bristol, N.H.). She has taken 75 shots this fall, a number that is tied for the second most in the conference, but she has found success leading the team and being tied for fifth in the CCC with ten goals while assisting on four more.
 
What makes Roger Williams difficult to defend, however, is that it is not just Monahan that the opposition has to worry about as the team features nine different players who have found the back of the net three or more times this season.
 
Lining up on each side of Monahan will likely be Morgan Foley (Hanover, Mass.) and Hannah Palmer (Essex Junction, Vt.). Foley is tied for second on the roster with seven goals scored and a pair of assists this season. Meanwhile, Palmer, the team's top scorer back in 2019, has taken to a smaller role scoring the ball with more defensive attention paid to her this season, by becoming RWU's top passer as she is tied for third in the CCC with seven assists on the season. Brooklyn Cenatiempo (Trumbull, Conn.) will also play a major role in the Hawks' forward rotation. She is tied for the program record with 32 career goals and has provided some efficient scoring this season, finding the back of the cage seven times with a .226 shooting percentage in addition to three assists.
 
The midfield group has a good blend of skill sets for the Hawks. Senior Hannah Gaffney (Bolton, Mass.) leads this group and is the most active offensively as she is fifth on the team notching five goals along while dishing five assists. RWU will often seek her on set plays off penalty corners and will look to utilize her powerful shot to try and apply pressure on the opposition, and her 50 shots are the second most on the roster. Ella Waryas (Foxboro, Mass.) will also likely start for RWU, and she has a knack for timely scoring for the Hawks with two of her three goals this season have been game winners, a number that is tied for the team lead with Monahan, Palmer, and Gaffney.
 
Kelly Doherty (Mansfield, Mass.) and Cate Delaney (Gloucester, Mass.) will also play a major role for Roger Williams in the midfield. Doherty is the likely starter, but both play similar roles and will often be found initiating penalty corner plays. Doherty has recorded three goals and two assists on the season. While Delaney has added three goals and an assist.
 
Leading the defense for the Hawks is the all-conference second team selection, Hunter Phillips (Schuylerville, N.Y.) who will play closer to midfield as more of a defensive midfielder and makes an impact offensively with two goals and a trio of assists.
 
The more traditional defenders for RWU will likely be Erin Magsamen (Bridgewater, N.J.), Maggie McCarthy (Worcester, Mass.) and Abigail Stevens (Brewster, Mass.). Magsamen is critical as a speedy back who is strong in one-on-one defensive situations while also notching three defensive saves. Taylor Woodbury (Hamilton, Mass.) is right behind Magsamen with two defensive saves but the emergence of McCarthy and Stevens in the later half of this season has been huge. McCarthy burst onto the scene scoring a goal in her first career game in September and has carved out a solid role for herself while Stevens has really emerged down the stretch and has started in each of the team's last six game.
 
Roger Williams will go with senior captain Callie Flanagan (Wenham, Mass.) in cage. Her 2.12 goals against average is fifth in the CCC despite a .650 save percentage though she does have three complete game shutouts and is fresh off a three-save, shutout showing against Gordon on Tuesday.
 
For The Nor'Easters
The University of New England earned the top seed in the CCC Tournament with an undefeated regular season in conference and for good reason as they lead the CCC in scoring netting 3.3 goals per game and third with 1.81 goals against per game. They upped their game in CCC play as well, leading the Commonwealth Coast Conference in both scoring offense and defense by scoring 4.5 goals per game and allowing just 1.17.
 
"Top-seeded UNE will be a competitive matchup," Blackhurst said. "UNE plays a fast two-touch style game with a lethal attacking penalty corner unit and a solid backfield line. As a team, we need to focus on playing a simple and aggressive style of hockey vs the Nor'Easters and capitalizing on opportunities earned."
 
UNE possesses maybe the best one-two punch in the conference offensively with a pair of All-CCC First Team selections in Lindsay Burns (Belfast, Maine) and Jillian Lachapelle (Gilford, N.H.). Burns is a terrific scorer, netting nine goals, tied for the ninth most in the CCC, including a quarter of tallies that proved to be game-winners. Lachapelle was more of a two-way threat leading the Nor'Easters with ten goals and ranking second on the team with six assists. Bailey Lynch (Upton, Mass.) and Madi Robito (Pelham, N.H.) will also play a roll in the forward rotation with Lynch being tied for third on the roster with five goals and Robito adding two of her own.
 
Defensively, the Nor'Easters are anchored by the CCC Defensive Player of the Year Julia Steeves (Skowhegan, Maine) who has an argument to be the best all-around player in the conference as she has netted five goals, including two game-winners, to go with her standout work on the defensive end that includes a defensive save.
 
Steeves is one of three UNE midfielders to earn all-conference recognition, as she is joined by Kate Lindmark (Norfolk, Mass.) and Lily Poor (Jericho, Vt.) who were both All-CCC Second Team selection. Poor does not jump out on the stat sheet, recording just one assist on the season, but she contributes in many ways and earned CCC Co-Rookie of the Year honors for her efforts. Lindmark, meanwhile, is the team's top facilitator with seven assists and two goals on top of two defensive saves.
 
UNE gets some strong defensive play in the midfield, but their defenders are just as good. They have first team all-conference selection Haylee Angster (Poquoson, Va.) who contributes from goal line to goal line with two goals and an assist to go with strong defensive play. Lauren Green (Gorham, Maine) is more of a pure defender and was named to the All-CCC second team this fall.
 
All of this talent and skill for UNE plays in front of the top goalie in the conference in All-CCC First Team member Lindsay Pych (West Milford, N.J.). Her four shutouts are the most in the Commonwealth Coast Conference while she is also tied for the conference lead with ten wins while ranking second in save percentage (.771) and third in goals against average (1.64). In addition, in CCC play she has the lowest goals against average with a mark of 0.78.
 
Previous Matchups
Since becoming a varsity sport in 2013, Roger Williams has never beaten the University of New England in field hockey though the Hawks have been closing the gap in recent matchups. Earlier this season, the Hawks battled but fell 3-1 back on October 2^nd, with the two goals being the second smallest margin of victory in an in-conference game for UNE this season. Palmer scored for RWU while Lachapelle scored two goals and added an assist for the Nor'Easters.
 
UNE also knocked the Hawks out of the postseason back in 2019 but it took overtime for them to claim the 2-1 win.
 
How To Follow Along
 
Start time for this semifinal's showdown is set for 6:30 PM Thursday night at Blue Storm Stadium on the campus of the University of New England.
 
If you cannot make it in person, you can follow along online.
 
VIDEO: https://athletics.une.edu/sports/2015/2/2/fh_watch.aspx
 
LIVE STATS: https://athletics.une.edu/sidearmstats/fhockey/summary