Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 5) – Sophomore Chelsea Shaughnessy (Halifax, Mass.) kicked off the 2009 season right where she left off, scoring the game-winning goal in the Nichols College women's soccer team's 1-0 season-opening victory over Framingham State Saturday afternoon at Vendetti Field. The Bison's leading scorer of 2008 as a rookie, Shaughnessy found the net in the 21st minute and the Bison held on for the second-consecutive 1-0 season-opening win over the Rams. Framingham State drops to 1-1 on the season.
Shaughnessy's goal was set up by a Nichols corner kick that was sent in short by sophomore Kaitlyn DiBuouno (Auburn, Mass.). Junior Holly Ventura (Hudson, Mass.) slipped the ball toward the near side of the net where Shaughnessy buried it just inside the post for the one-goal lead at 20:09.
Nichols held a slim 8-5 shot advantage in the opening half, but the Rams edged closer in the second frame with a 9-8 advantage in the stanza.
Jill Johnson created an excellent opportunity in the 79th minute as she broke through a pair of Bison defenders and fired from about 12 yards out, but Nichols goalkeeper Meaghan Billings (Tewksbury, Mass.) was on spot to make the save.
Billings finished with six saves, including four in the second half, for her first collegiate victory. Freshman Kia Minor stopped five Nichols shots in the loss.
Nichols held a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks, and was assessed six fouls to Framingham's two.
The Bison continue a four-game homestand with a 4 p.m. game against Westfield State on Tuesday. Framingham travels to Curry for a 7 p.m. game Tuesday.
Box Score
