Box Score Box Score
DUDLEY, Mass.- The Nichols College field hockey team rolled to a 6-0 win over Fitchburg State in non-conference action at Vendetti Field on Monday. Sophomore Sara Bailey (Athol, Mass.) and freshman Eileen Clinton (Londonderry, N.H.) each scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the Bison. With the shutout, Nichols has tied the school record for shutouts in a season with seven while sophomore MaryKate Bednarz (Springfield, Mass.) has also tied the goalkeeper shutout record. The Bison are now 11-4 on the season, including a 7-1 mark at home. Fitchburg State falls to 2-12 on the year.
Freshman MaryKate Frodema (Springfield, Mass.) gave Nichols the lead for good with her unassisted goal 19:50 into the game. Granted a penalty corner as time expired in the first half, the Bison took advantage as sophomore Emily Stearns (Mansfield, Mass.) chipped the ball past Falcons keeper Emily Creen (Worcester, Mass.) to head into halftime with a 2-0 advantage.
Fitchburg State took control early in the second half, limiting Nichols control of the ball. That all soon changed, however, as the Bison exploded for four goals within an eight minute span to break the game open.
Bailey scored her 14th goal of the year 8:52 into the half to get the rally started. Clinton followed with her first goal of the game less than two minutes later. Bailey struck again at the 54:34 mark while Clinton closed things out with her 11th goal of the year two minutes later. With her assist tonight, Clinton is one away from tying the seasonal record of 11 assists set by Kerry Sheehy in 1994.
Nichols will return to conference action this Saturday at 1 p.m. when it hosts Western New England College. It will be Nichols final regular season home game as senior co-captain Stephanie Magni will be honored prior to the start of the game.
