Field Hockey Suffers Stunning 4-3 Setback to UNE

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The University of New England field hockey team scored three goals over the final 19 minutes to overcome a 3-1 deficit as the visiting Nor'Easters stunned host Bridgewater State University, 4-3, this evening at Swenson Field in Bridgewater.

UNE improves to 10-6 on the season, while Bridgewater falls to 8-7 after suffering their third straight defeat.

Junior forward Michelle Oswald (Jay, Maine) tallied a pair of goals with under five minutes remaining in regulation to complete the dramatic comeback for the Nor'Easters.  Sophomore midfielder Laura Egounis (Boscawen, N.H.) had started the comeback in the 52nd minute as she scored off a rebound to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Bridgewater State senior forward Bethany Bush (Littleton, Mass.) notched a pair of first half goals for the Bears with the first marker coming off a cross from junior midfielder Stephanie Lannon (Swampscott, Mass.). The two goals by Bush were sandwiched around an unassisted tally by junior midfielder Breanna Clement (Pittsfield, Mass.) who found the back of the net off her own rebound in the 11th minute of play.

Junior forward Brianna Tupper (Winthrop, Maine) gave UNE an early 1-0 lead in the seventh minute as she slid a shot past the Bridgewater State keeper and inside the left post.

After Clement had upped the Bears' advantage to 2-1, UNE nearly tied the score on a penalty stroke in the 16th minute.  BSU senior goaltender Katie Weber (Arltington, Mass.) was up to the challenge, however, as she made a blocker save on the stroke attempt by Egounis.

Weber finished with 16 saves between the pipes for the Bears who were outshot by a margin of 23-12, including a 14-2 UNE advantage in the second half.  The Nor'Easters also had 24 penalty corners compared to just three for Bridgewater.  Senior netminder Ayla Nelson (Auburn, Mass.) turned aside six shots in the winning effort for the visitors.

With her two goals, Bush increased her season total to 18 and extended her season-long point scoring streak to 14 games.  Prior to the game, Bush was honored for reaching the 100-point milestone in Bridgewater's 3-2 overtime loss at Framingham State last week.

Bridgewater will host Little East Conference rival Plymouth State University on Saturday (5:00 PM) in the regular season finale for both teams.  A win over the Panthers would give the Bears the number two seed in next week's conference tournament.  UNE hosts Gordon College in The Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament opening round on Saturday.