Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 10) – Sophomore Lauren Correia (Seekonk, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal with just over 15 minutes left to cap a Nichols College comeback as the Bison defeated visiting Westfield State College, 2-1, in non-conference field hockey action on Vendetti Field Thursday evening. The Owls even up at 1-1 on the season while the Bison improve to 3-0.
Westfield State held a one-goal lead for most of the game courtesy of a Jessica Donovan score in the eighth minute of the first frame. Alicia Gardner broke away from the Nichols defense and streaked up the left wing from midfield before passing to Donovan in the arc. Donovan's shot eluded Nichols rookie goalkeeper Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) for the lead.
On the opposite end of the field, Owls' netminder Amanda McCarthy came up big, making 11 stops in the first frame to keep the Bison off the board, despite 10 corner opportunities for the home team. Nichols finished with an 18-3 penalty corner advantage in the game.
It took until late in the game for the Bison to thwart McCarthy, netting a pair of scores less than five minutes apart to take the lead.
Mary Kate Frodema (Springfield, Mass.) sparked the scoring in the 51st minute with her first score of the year, banging home a long corner from Chelsea Correia (Seekonk, Mass.).
Lauren Correia followed in the 55th minute by knocking in a short pass in front of the net from Eileen Clinton (Londonderry, N.H.).
Forand earned her third win of the season with just two saves, while McCarthy shouldered the loss with 14 stops.
Nichols is back in action at Salve Regina Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Bison's The Commonwealth Coast Conference opener. Westfield State hosts Worcester State Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Owls' MASCAC opener.
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