Box Score

NEWPORT, R.I. - First-year forward Eileen Clinton [Londonderry, N.H.] scored three times to lead Nichols College over Salve Regina, 5-4, in TCCC field hockey action on Wednesday. Both teams knew that only the winner of today's regular season finale would advance into The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) field hockey playoffs on Saturday. The Bison will face the University of New England in the Quarterfinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Biddeford, ME. The win today ties a school record for wins in a season as Nichols is now 13-5 on the season.

The host Seahawks took an early 1-0 lead on a goal in the 10th minute from leading scorer Caroline Galligan [SR/Newburyport, Mass.], assisted by Jillian Lee [SR/Morristown, N.J.]. Galligan made it a 2-0 advantage late in the first half with an assist from Brittany Lopes [FR/Lexington, Mass.].

Clinton wouldn't let the Bison go scoreless into intermission as she scored her 13th goal of the season with just under three minutes to go in the first half. Another first-year forward, MaryKate Frodema [FR/Springfield, Mass.], tied the game and then gave Nichols its first lead with a pair of goals between the 47th and 56th minutes.

Seahawk senior defender Allison Hiller [Jackson, N.H.] scored her first collegiate goal to knot the score at 3-all, but Clinton made it a two-goal Bison lead with less than five minutes to go in the game. Whitney Bushee [SR/Duxbury, Mass.], the all-time leading scorer in Salve Regina history, closed the gap to one with her final collegiate goal.

Nichols (13-5, 4-4 TCCC) knocks Salve Regina (7-10, 3-5 TCCC) out of playoff contention with the victory.

Release courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information