Box Score

WENHAM, Mass.- Gordon College freshman midfielder Veronica Pierce (West Hartford, Conn.) notched the game-winning goal with just 1:16 remaining in overtime as the Fighting Scots defeated Nichols College, 4-3, this afternoon in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) play at the Brigham Athletic Complex on the campus of Gordon College. 

Following back-and-forth offensive action in the first overtime period, Pierce gathered the ball from 15 yards outside the circle and sped past the defense to set up a one-on-one with Nichols goalkeeper MaryKate Bednarz (Springfield, Mass.).  Pierce saw an opening just to the right of the keeper and found the back of the cage to seal the victory for the home team on her third tally of the season.  Pierce's goal helps the Fighting Scots keep a clean slate in the conference with a 6-0 record (9-7 overall) while the Bison fall to 10-4 on the season and 3-3 in league play. 

The Fighting Scots got off to a slow first-half start as the GC defense surrendered a goal just 6:55 into the opening frame.  Nichols College sophomore forward Sara Bailey (Athol, Mass.) sent a shot from just inside the circle which was turned away by GC junior keeper Chyanne Wilson (Pearl River, N.Y.) but Bison sophomore midfielder Beverly Burrill (Bridgewater, Mass.) gathered the rebound and notched her first goal of the season to put the visitors up, 1-0, early. 

With 14:04 to play in the first half, the Bison earned their seventh penalty corner of the period and used it to set junior defender Brittany Case's (Cambridge, N.Y.) first goal of the season on an assist from fellow defender Marie Kauker (Bellingham, Mass.) to make it a 2-0 game in favor of the Bison.  The Fighting Scots used a penalty corner with just over five minutes to play to put six consecutive shots on goal but Bednarz was up to the task each time to preserve the 2-0 lead and head into the intermission with the two-goal advantage. 

The Fighting Scots came out with an offensive onslaught in the second period, earning three corners in the opening two minutes.  Just 5:10 into the second stanza, GC senior midfielder Kristen Helgesen (Manchester, Mass.) deflected the ball to an open junior forward Abby Walker (Portland, Maine) who found the back of the cage to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. 

Just eight minutes later, the Scots found themselves in a similar situation, earning a corner which was deflected by Helgesen and junior forward Mollie Sweeney (South Hamilton, Mass.) and Walker was again there for her seventh goal of the season which tied the contest at two goals apiece.  GC would earn 17 corners in the second half and used yet another corner to find the goal – this time Sweeney flicked the ball waist high into the back of the net on an assist from freshman midfielder Ariadni Niavradaki (Hania, Crete, Greece) and the score read 3-2 with 13:47 to play in regulation.

The Bison would not go quietly in the second half, however as the visitors used a corner to set up sophomore Emily Stearns' (Mansfield, Mass.) sixth goal of the season as she skipped the ball through the pads of Wilson on an assist from freshman MaryKate Frodema (Springfield, Mass.).  Despite seven shots and three corners in the final two minutes, GC would not score and the sides would need overtime to decide the outcome. 

Each side saw several scoring chances in the overtime period as much of the frame was played inside 25 yards on both ends of the field.  With 5:14 elapsed in the third frame, Frodema had a clear shot at the net but Helgesen was there with a defensive save to salvage the contest for the Scots.  Nichols would earn three corners in the OT period to Gordon's one but Pierce would prove the difference to give the Scots the 4-3 home victory. 

Bednarz stopped 20 shots in the contest for the Bison while Case made three defensive saves in defeat.  Wilson earned the victory for her ten saves while Helgesen and sophomore defender Wendy Redcay (Mount Joy, Pa.) each registered a defensive save. 

The Fighting Scots will travel to Leicester, Mass. on Thursday (Oct. 18) for a non-conference match with Becker College while the Bison battle Fitchburg State Monday afternoon. 

Story courtesy of Gordon Sports Information