WATERVILLE – The University of Maine at Farmington field hockey team were shutout for the second straight game with Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Thomas in the season finale.
Thomas scored the first goal of the game off a penalty corner at the 6:22 mark by Erica Blake. Nora Rauch fired a pass to Brooklyn Curry in the circle. With the Beaver defense collapsing on Curry, the junior passed off to Blake, who tapped the go-ahead score.
UMF tried to answer a minute later on a penalty corner of its own. The Terrier defense held strong and killed the Beavers scoring chance.
Thomas started the second half firing on all cylinders. Taylor Bergeron gave Thomas its final margin of victory 32 seconds into the final half off the assist from Brittany Premo.
The Beavers attempted to cut the deficit in half in the 48th minute. Mara Balboni led the UMF penalty attack and dished a pass to senior Chelasea Morley, but Morley’s shot sailed wide.
Patty Smith was solid in the cage for UMF with eight saves. Abbie Charrier earned the victory for Thomas and saved four shots in the process.
UMF (7-6, 3-2) earns the Number 3 seed in the NAC Field Hockey Championship Tournament. Thomas (7-9, 4-1) claim the second seed. The Terriers will host the Beavers in the tournament semifinal on Nov. 1. Game times for the tournament will be announced later this week.
Semifinal winners will square off for the conference championship on Saturday, Nov. 8, at a time to be determined at the site of the higher seed.
The NAC Champion will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.
