Box Score Box Score
Henniker, N.H.- The #5 seeded Nichols College field hockey team fell to #2 seeded New England College, 4-2, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship game on Saturday. The Bison gave the Pilgrims all they could handle as they out-shot NEC 22-18. After settling to a 1-1 tie at the half, senior NCAA leading scorer Amanda Lester (Columbia, Conn.) went on the attack, scoring three goals to lead the Pilgrims to the 4-2 victory. Nichols, now 15-6 on the season, will await word on Monday for a possible ECAC Championship berth.
NEC took an early 1-0 lead 1:53 into the game but Nichols fought back, tying the game at 1-1 at the 12:55 mark as junior Lauren Pettoruto (Windham, N.H.) connected with junior co-captain Brittany Case (Cambridge, N.Y.). Nichols had its opportunities throughout the rest of the half but the NEC defense was able to prevent the Bison from taking the lead.
In the second half, Lester tallied her first of three goals just 1:36 in and followed with two more scores in the 43rd and 52nd minutes to give NEC a big 4-1 lead. Nichols would not go down easy though as sophomore Sara Bailey (Athol, Mass.) tied a Nichols record for goals in a season with her 22nd at the 59:14 mark. Pettoruto earned the assist on that goal as well as Bailey tapped back her attempt. The Pilgrims were again able to contain the potent Nichols offense in the final ten minutes of the game as they captured their second straight TCCC crown.
With a 15-6 record, Nichols hopes to receive an invite to the ECAC Championship which will begin this Wednesday, Nov. 7. The selections will be announced on Monday, Nov. 5.
