BIDDEFORD —The University of New England got two goals from junior Jackie Dickerson on its way to a 4-0 shutout of Salve Regina University in a Commonwealth Coast Conference women’s soccer match played in strong winds and rain Wednesday afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

The Nor’easters, who earlier in the day learned they are ranked seventh in the initial NCAA Division III regional ranking of the season, improved to 11-2-1 overall and 5-1-1 in conference play. Salve Regina dropped its sixth straight start to dip to 3-11-0 (1-6-0 CCC). UNE’s win was its seventh consecutive triumph over the Seahawks.

Dickerson got Big Blue into the scoring column in the 16th minute when she took a feed from first-year Becca Murphy, took a few touches, then directed a low shot into the left side of the goal. Senior Margaret Palmer was credited with a secondary assist on the play.

UNE would double its advantage less than eight minutes later. Senior Lindsey Monaco sent a corner kick in from the left side that classmate Kaitlyn Hall tracked down and headed in for her first marker of the season.

The Nor’easters took that 2-0 lead into the half after outshooting the Seahawks by a 12-5 margin for the frame.

UNE pushed the lead to 3-0 in the 55th minute when Murphy and Dickerson hooked up again. Murphy found Dickerson at the top of the six, and the junior poked home a shot from close range for her first multi-goal performance of the season.

Monaco concluded the scoring in the 66th minute, collecting a Salve turnover in its defensive end and sliding a shot from the left side of the box just inside the far post.

Sophomore starting goalkeeper Brielle Robinson played the opening 71:27 for the Nor’easters. She made four saves, including a diving stop of an attempt by Seahawk senior Lauren Bulk in the 23rd minute.

Senior Angelina Saporito finished with eight saves for Salve Regina

UNE finished the afternoon with advantages in shots (23-6) and corner kicks (7-1).

Men’s Soccer

BIDDEFORD — Senior tri-captain Zachary Kraft scored two goals to pace the Salve Regina University men’s soccer team in a 3-1 Commonwealth Coast Conference win over the University of New England on Wednesday evening at the Big Blue Turf.

The win for the Seahawks (7-8-0, 4-3-0 CCC) snapped a seven-game unbeaten streak for the Nor’easters, who fell to 9-4-2 overall and 3-3-1 in conference play, while also helping Salve trade places with UNE in the conference standings.

With both teams battling strong winds, the Seahawks broke through first when Kraft collected a loose ball and drove home a shot from inside the box. UNE senior goalkeeper Aidan McParland had come off his line to punch away a cross from the right flank, and Kraft took advantage of the open net in the 20th minute.

The Nor’easters leveled the match 10 minutes later when junior Tyler Garnick sent in a cross from the left corner that found first-year Darius Ntayco, who one-timed the pass into the goal for his fourth marker of the year. Junior Will Bushey started the play and received a secondary assist.

Kraft would tally the game-winner in the 55th minute, converting a feed from Alex Wasilewski to put the Seahawks on top, 2-1.

Wasilewski provided Salve with a late insurance goal when he picked up a UNE turnover, took a few touches, and drove a low shot into the net for his team-leading sixth goal.

The Seahawks had the better of the stat sheet, racking up an edge in shots (23-6) and corner kicks (7-2). Junior keeper Daniel Stern needed three saves to register the victory.

McParland had yet another strong outing in goal for UNE, totaling eight stops, including a few spectacular saves in the second half to keep the Nor’easters within striking distance.

Women’s Volleyball

BIDDEFORD — Sophomore Grayson Szczepaniak tallied five of her match-high 10 kills in the opening set as the University of New England women’s volleyball team topped Wentworth Institute of Technology by a score of 3-0 on Wednesday evening in a Commonwealth Coast Conference match at the Harold Alfond Forum. Set scores were 25-23, 25-15, and 25-14.

The victory was the fifth in-a-row for the Nor’easters (11-12, 4-1 CCC), who swept the Leopards (13-11, 2-4 CCC) for a 10th consecutive meeting.

Szczepaniak added to her .600 hitting performance on the night by notching three solo blocks and a pair of aces for 15.5 points. First-year Courtney Lambrese chipped in with 11.5 points, on five kills, three aces, and three solo blocks. Senior Leah Janelle finished with nine winners (four in the 3rd set), while first-year Brooke Gibbons posted 23 assists and a team-best 10 digs. Sophomore Nikki Mathewson registered eight digs.

For Wentworth, first-year Sydney Meyers ended with seven kills, and senior Shannon Ponce totaled 15 assists. Defensively, junior Hannah Bailey led all players with 13 digs, and senior Sam Curran contributed eight more.