BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Roger Williams University Field Hockey team struggled early in the contest, but managed to use a two-goal second half to overcome the Nor'easters of the University of New England, 3-2.
Roger Williams picks up their third win in the all-time series, winning the past three meetings. This is their first program victory at Blue Bolt Field. The Hawks have won three games over the past two seasons. UNE holds the series lead with a 20-3 record against RWU.
The Hawks out shot UNE 11-6, but had eight of their attempts on target, to the Nor'easters' four. UNE also had five penalty corner opportunities to RWU's three; all of the attempts for the Nor'easters came in the first half.
Chelsea King (Albany, N.Y.) and Eva Wood (Sandwich, Mass.) each had three shots, with two landing on target, with King tallying four points in the match. Maddy Monahan (Bristol, N.H.) and Wood each had an assist, with Grace Rocheleau (West Hartford, Conn.) tallying a goal for RWU.
The Nor'easters' offense was run through Makena Valentine, who tallied both goals while putting two of three shots on target, with Shelly Tremblay earning an assist.
Hannah Brazil (Sandwich, Mass.) picked up the win with a pair of saves, while Greta Jennison earned five saves in the loss.
The Hawks struck first with a shot by Wood, which was saved by Jennison. However, the rebound found the stick of King, who deflected it into the back of the net for her 10th goal of the season. After a penalty in the scoring area, Valentine converted on the penalty stroke for her fourth tally of the season, heading into the second frame knotted up 1-1.
In the second, the Nor'easters struck off a penalty corner, when Shelly Tremblay found Valentine, as Valentine snuck one by Brazil for her fifth goal of the season.
Trailing in the second half, Rocheleau was on the receiving end of a ball from Monahan, which Rocheleau then buried 4:53 into the second half, leveling the score at 2-2. In the fourth quarter, the Hawks saw King strike again, 3:21 into the frame, tallying the game-winning goal, putting the Hawks ahead for good. UNE was held to one shot in the fourth quarter as the Hawks took the win.
Roger Williams (5-3, 2-0 CNE) will take a weekend trip beginning on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 11:30 am at Hartford. The Hawks will then face Vassar on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 12:00 pm in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
