Flatley, Nerbonne Record Six Points Apiece to Propel Field Hockey Past Maine, 5-2, In America East Semi

Thursday, November 6

4 pm

University of New Hampshire

(9-11)

University of Maine

(10-10)

Team	1	2	Final F
Maine	2	0	2
New Hampshire	2	3	5

Flatley, Nerbonne Record Six Points Apiece to Propel Field Hockey Past Maine, 5-2, In America East Semi

11/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Meg Flatley (Townsend, Mass.) and Lindsey Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.), both named to the All-Conference Team the eve of the tournament, recorded six points apiece to propel the University of New Hampshire field hockey team to Thursday afternoon's America East semifinal victory against the University of Maine at UAlbany's Alumni Turf Field.

UNH, the tournament's second seed with a 4-1 conference record, won its third consecutive game to improve to 9-11 overall and advance to the America East title game for the fifth consecutive year. The Wildcats and UAlbany meet in a rematch of last year's championship game Saturday at 1 p.m.

Maine, which lost 3-2 in overtime to UNH last Friday in its regular-season finale, ends the season at 10-10.

Flatley tied a conference tournament record with three goals and Nerbonne finished with two goals and two assists, both of which are personal bests. Ashley Mendonca (Brampton, Ontario), an All-Rookie Team selection, was also credited with an assist. UNH goalkeeper Carlie Tarbell (Wakefield, Mass.), another Second Team honoree, tallied six saves.

Maine was led offensively by Annabelle Hamilton (one goal, one assist) and Danielle Aviani (1g), while Emma Cochran stopped five shots.

"Clearly is was a great game," UNH 24^th-year head coach Robin Balducci said. "The opening 12 minutes was certainly a testament to the competitiveness of the two teams. I'm sure it was nice to watch as a fan but I'm glad we really settled in in the second half."

The teams combined to score four goals in the opening 12 minutes of the game and the flurry came in a span of 4 minutes, 2 seconds, the last three of which were on three consecutive shots. The Wildcats pressured in the first minute and, off a penalty corner, Nerbonne's direct shot was deflected high over the crossbar by a Maine defender. Moments later, Nerbonne advanced to the top of the circle and struck a reverse-stick shot that Cochran kicked away. One minute later, Flatley advanced past the 25 into the circle in transition, but Cochran charged from the goal line to make the save.

The Black Bears took a 1-0 lead at 7:38 when they were awarded a penalty stroke and Hamilton lifted a shot inside the left post for the goal.

Maine nearly converted a UNH turnover in its defensive circle into a two-goal lead, but Tarbell made a kick save on Aviani's reverse-stick attempt from the middle of the circle.

The Wildcats responded by tying the score, 1-1, at 9:00. Cochran once again came out from the goal line, but the loose ball ricocheted behind her and Nerbonne moved the ball across the goal crease to Flatley, who deposited a shot into the open cage from close range.

It took the Black Bears just 21 seconds to regain the lead, however, as Hamilton ripped an entry pass from 30 yards on the left wing that Aviani redirected into the cage.

New Hampshire leveled the score at 11:40 when Flatley once again tipped in a pass from Nerbonne. Mendonca was also credited with an assist, her second of the second.

After that outburst, neither team recorded a shot until Maine's corner in the 21^st minute produced Hamilton's direct shot from the top of the circle toward the left post. Tarbell made a diving save to keep the game deadlocked.

Lynne Lehman (Landisburg, Pa.) fired a shot on goal in the 29^th minute and that proved to be the last shot of the half.

The 'Cats recorded an 8-5 shot advantage in the first half and the corners were even at 1.

The Black Bears were awarded a corner two minutes into the second half but did not record a shot. They earned another opportunity in the 43^rd minute and this time Tarbell had to make a save against Hamilton.

Three minutes later a the other end of the field, UNH capitalized on a corner to take its first lead of the game – one the Wildcats would not relinquish – at 45:56. Cochran stopped the initial shot off the stick of Jackie Hozza (Sinking Spring, Pa.) but Nerbonne scored off the rebound.

Maine had a corner in the 57^th minute, but Hamilton's shot was blocked and Flatley quickly counterattacked on a breakaway. Flatley then beat Cochran for her third goal of the game and a 4-2 Wildcats' advantage at 56:16.

The Black Bears called time out, but it was the 'Cats who recorded the next shot on goal – a strike wide by Gianna Bensaia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) in the 62^nd minute.

Nerbonne struck again at 65:28 when she eluded the charging Cochran and shot the ball into an open cage.

Less than 30 seconds later, Tarbell was forced to make a save against Sydney Veljacic. Maine generated a corner with 86 seconds remaining, but Hamilton's shot went wide of the cage.

The shots were even 5-5 in the second half. Tarbell blanked the Black Bears in the second half with three saves and held them scoreless the final 58:20 of the game.

With the three-goal, six point performance, Flatley climbed past No. 6 Katie White (2002-05; 95 points) on UNH's career points leaderboard; Flatley has 98 points on 42 goals and 14 assists. The junior also surpassed Rebecca Provost (1991-94; 40 goals) and into a tie at No. 6 with Meg Shea (2006-09; 42).