Box Score
BIDDEFORD, Maine - Junior Bree Tupper (Winthrop, Maine) scored her third goal of the game and converted an assist from freshman Hayley LaPointe (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat) in the 87th minute to deliver a 5-4 double-overtime victory for the University of New England Nor'easters in a non-conference field hockey game against the University of Southern Maine Huskies Wednesday afternoon at the Big Blue Turf Field in Biddeford, Maine.
The Nor'easters open their season at 1-0 with the victory. The Huskies, also competing in their season-opener, fall to 0-1 on the season.
Tupper finished with three goals and an assist as the Nor'easters rallied from a 4-2 deficit to earn the win. Senior midfielder Michaela Franey (York, Maine) and junior forward Michelle Oswald (Jay, Maine/Mount Blue) each had a goal and an assist for the Nor'easters.
The Huskies fell behind UNE 2-0 in the first half as Tupper netted her first two goals of the game in the seventh and 14th minute before rallying for four consecutive goals to pull ahead 4-2.
Junior Whitney McDaniel (Livermore, Maine/Livermore Falls) scored the first of her three goals in the 18th minute to start the streak for USM and was followed by sophomore forward Kailey Bubier (Auburn, Maine/Hebron Academy) in the 22nd minute for the equalizer. McDaniel scored the final two goals of the game for USM in the 27th and 41st minute. All of USM's goals were unassisted.
Franey and Oswald scored in the 52nd and 59th minute respectively to force the overtime periods.
Senior goalkeeper Ayla Nelson (Auburn, Mass.) earned the win in goal for UNE making nine saves. USM goalkeepers freshmen Emily Downing (Sanford, Maine) and Kayla Kennedy (Windham, Maine) split time in net. Downing played the opening 35 minutes allowing two goals while making two saves, while Kennedy turned back 19 shots in 51:15.
Senior back Heather Gilman (Fairfield, Maine/Lawrence) and senior midfielder Bryleigh Cook (Gardiner, Maine) each made a defensive save for USM.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) against SUNY-Brockport at the Zenaty Tournament hosted by Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. UNE travels to Castleton State on Saturday (6:00 p.m.).
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