University of New England roundup

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Middlebury College scored five first-half goals on the way to a 7-0 win over the University of New England in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship on Saturday at Kohn Field.

After claiming its second Commonwealth Coast Conference title and first NCAA tournament victory, UNE finishes the year with a record of 17-7, with those 17 victories matching last season for the second-highest output in school history.

The host Panthers (18-1) were a model of efficiency, particularly in the early going when they converted on their first four shot attempts. For the game, Middlebury converted better than 50 percent of its shot attempts (7 of 13).

Olivia Jurkowitz, Pam Schulman and Jillian Green each scored twice for Middlebury, while Catherine Fowler found the cage once.

UNE’s best scoring opportunity of the day came with just over a minute to play in the contest, but Middlebury goalkeeper Emily Knapp made a sprawling save to her left on a bid by Alex Staples off a UNE penalty corner.

Knapp finished with a total of three saves, and Holly Smith totaled six for the Nor’easters.

UNE falls to FSU in PKs

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — After playing to a 0-0 draw through two overtime periods, fourth-seeded Framingham State University pulled out the 2014 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III New England Women’s Soccer Championship with a 4-3 decision in penalty kicks against second-seeded University of New England on Sunday afternoon at Maple St. Field.

With the slim advantage entering the fifth round of shootout attempts, Rams goalkeeper Sara Sullivan made her second stop in the series of kicks to seal the victory. Though she did not have to make a save in the 110 minutes of live action, Sullivan denied UNE’s first try and then stepped up to convert FSU’s initial penalty, and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for her impact.

The Nor’easters close out the year at 13-4-3.

After Sullivan in the shootout, Isabela DeSouza, Parent, and Claryssa Cunniff found the back of the net for Framingham State. The Nor’easters’ second, third, and fourth attempts were scored by Taylor Littlefield, Tori Field, and Kayla Hamel.

XC competes at NCAAs

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. ”“ The University of New England women’s cross country team capped its most successful season in program history with a ninth-place finish at the 2014 NCAA III New England Regional Championship on Saturday at Mount Greylock High School.

UNE posted a score of 305 to finish in the Top 10 at the event for the first time.

The UNE men placed 23rd out of 54 entries.