Box Score HENNIKER, N.H. (Oct. 16) – New England College forward Samantha Escobar scored with 5:06 remaining in regulation to lift the Pilgrims past the visiting Nichols College, 3-2, in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference field hockey game Saturday afternoon.
With the win the Pilgrims grab sole possession of the top spot in the TCCC, improving to 7-0 in the conference and 9-6 overall. With the loss Nichols falls to 11-4 overall and suffers its first conference loss of the season moving to 6-1 in the TCCC.
The Pilgrims would get on the board early as Emily Kuchta tiped in a rebound off the stick of Escobar just 6:25 into the opening period.
The Bison knotted the game at 1-1 in the 13th minute as Eileen Clinton (Londonderry, N.H.) put in a diving shot past Pilgrim keeper Jesse Kilcullen. Nichols wouldn't waste much time grabbing the lead just over six minutes later as Clinton collected her second goal of the afternoon off a nice pass from Chelsea Correia (Seekonk, Mass.).
The two teams would battle through the remainder of the opening half and a majority of the second half scoreless before NEC's Marissa Ayotte converted on a Pilgrim penalty stroke with 7:34 remaining in regulation, tying the game at 2-2.
NEC grabbed the lead late in the game as Escobar put in a pass from Amanda Naimie, recording her 16th goal of the season with 5:06 on the clock.
Nichols had its best scoring opportunity of the second half in the final minutes of the game as Amber Cottrell (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.) fired two shots on net, but was thwarted by Kilcullen.
The Bison finished the afternoon out shooting the Pilgrims 24-15.
Picking up the win in goal for NEC was Kilcullen who finished with 18 saves. In net for Nichols was Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) who recorded eight saves on the afternoon.
New England College returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 19 when they travel to take on non-conference opponent Bates College. Nichols College will take the field on Saturday, Oct. 23 when they host conference foe University of New England.
Story courtesy New England College Sports Information
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