Box Score WENHAM, Mass. – The Nichols College men's soccer team came back from a three-goal deficit at Gordon Saturday afternoon, but a Scots goal in the 89th minute gave the home team a 4-3 victory in the TCCC opener for both teams. Michael Schell (South Windsor, Conn.) tied the game for the Bison (3-2, 0-1 TCCC) in the 85th minute.
Sean Lafferty blasted home the game-winning goal with just over a minute to play, thwarting a tremendous comeback from the Bison, and giving the Scots a winning start to conference play.
Gordon jumped out to a commanding early lead, led by freshman forward Noah McGarr, who struck in the game's opening minute, converting a lead pass from Lafferty. In the 15th minute, Dan Engberg used his head to bury a long cross from Micah Linn, and the Scots were up 2-0. The game appeared to be all but over when sophomore Matt Horth scored an unassisted goal at the 31:00 mark, putting Gordon ahead, 3-0.
However, Nichols managed to trim the deficit, when Kyle Brockaway (Lebanon, N.H.) scored late in the first half. When the second half began, the Bison began to mount consistent pressure on the young Scot defense, and David Johnson (Canterbury, Conn.) broke through in the 68th minute, cutting the lead to 3-2. When Schell converted with just over five minutes to play, Nichols had come all the way back to knot the game at 3. Shortly afterwards, the Bison nearly took the lead when a shot from close range clanged off the crossbar.
The momentum had strongly shifted in favor of Nichols, but Lafferty prevented overtime, scoring the game winner with help from Chuck Anderas and Matt Horth.
First-year goalkeeper Brendan Hamilton (North Attleboro, Mass.) made five saves for the Bison, while Scots netminder Brian Schilling stopped two in the win.
Nichols is off until Saturday when the Bison travel to the University of New England for a 2:30 p.m. TCCC match.
Box Score
