Box Score Box Score
DUDLEY, Mass.- The third-seeded Nichols College field hockey team moved onto the semifinal round of the ECAC Championship with a 5-3 win over sixth-seeded Castleton State on Wednesday at Vendetti Field. Freshman Eileen Clinton (Londonderry, N.H.) led the Bison with a pair of goals, including the game-winner late in the first half. Junior Lauren Pettoruto (Windham, N.H.) added two assists while freshman MaryKate Frodema (Springfield, Mass.) tallied a goal and an assist. Nichols is now 16-6 on the season while Castleton State ends its season with a 12-7 mark.
Nichols benefited from a quick start as Frodema scored off her own rebound just 29 seconds into the game. Sophomore Molly Fraher (Goshen, Conn.) scored off junior Kayla Blank's (Whitesboro, N.Y) penalty corner at the 14:13 mark to tie the game at 1-1.
The two teams quickly traded goals in the 17th and 18th minutes to make it a 2-2 contest. Clinton scored her first goal of the game with Pettoruto and Frodema earning the assists at the 16:40 mark. Junior Carolyn Griggs (Lincoln, Vt.) scored Castleton's second goal with Blank picking up her second assist.
Clinton's unassisted goal 4:01 before halftime proved to be the game-winner as the Bison built up their lead to 5-2 by the 60:16 mark. Junior Jackie Dwyer (Enfield, Conn.) chipped in a cross from Pettoruto 11:44 into the second half while freshman Samantha Lacerra (Watertown, Mass.) knocked in a scramble in front of the net with ten minutes left to play. Griggs got the Spartans to within two with 4:54 remaining but it was too little too late.
Junior Trisha Clark (East Dover, Vt.) did all she could in net for the Spartans as she totaled 20 saves, including several highlight reel stops. Sophomore MaryKate Bednarz (Springfield, Mass.) posted four saves as the Bison defense, led by senior Stephanie Magni (Newton, Mass.) and junior Brittney Case (Cambridge, N.Y.), allowed just two shots in the second half and 11 total.
Nichols will travel to second-seeded Bridgewater State College on Saturday for a 12 noon contest. The winner of the game will host the winner of the St. Joseph/Plymouth State semifinal match-up on Sunday as eighth-seeded Plymouth State knocked out top-seeded Southern Maine today with a 2-0 win.
