FITCHBURG, Mass. –Sophomore Mark Capitanio (Mansfield, Mass.) scored the game-winner in the 79th minute as the Nichols College men's soccer team defeated Fitchburg State, 2-1, on the road at Elliot Field Saturday afternoon. Senior captain Aaron Kelly (Dover Plains, N.Y.) also had a goal in the non-conference game.

Kelly gave the Bison the lead in the 26th minute, slipping a shot past Fitchburg netminder Matt Carey.

The Falcons knotted the game early in the second half when Trevor Higgins took a pass from Joseph Daigle for the score just under 10 minutes into the stanza.

Nichols responded when Capitanio connected with a loose-ball rebound from David Johnson (Williamstown, Mass.) in front of the net for his second tally of the season.

Nichols held a 19-16 shot advantage and maintained a 4-1 lead in corner kicks. First-year netminder Brendan Hamilton (North Attleboro, Mass.) made six saves in his first collegiate victory, while Fitchburg's Matt Cary made five stops.

Nichols College (1-1) opens a two-game homestand against Newbury College Monday at 4 p.m. The Bison then take on Daniel Webster at 4 p.m. Thursday.  

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