Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 24) – Junior goalkeeper Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) made 16 saves to backstop the Nichols College field hockey team to a 3-1 victory over Gordon College in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference game at Michael J. Vendetti Field Friday evening. The Bison improve to 6-2 overall and 3-0 in TCCC action, while the Scots fall to 2-7 overall and even out at 1-1 in conference play.
The first half featured even play and a 1-1 score at the break. Bison senior Eileen Clinton (Londonderry, N.H.) gave the home team an early advantage off a pass from Jara Barbato (Watertown, Mass.). The goal marked Clinton's 106th career point, pushing her into second place on the Bison's all-time scoring charts.
Gordon answered back just over four minutes later when Veronica Pierce knotted the game with an unassisted score at 8:29.
Under two minutes into the second half, Nichols took the lead when Chelsea Correia (Seekonk, Mass.) tapped in a long pass from MaryKate Frodema (Springfield, Mass.). Sophomore Barbara Roy (Springfield, Mass.) gave Nichols a cushion 10 minutes later, taking a breakout pass from Corriea and carrying it in unopposed for a backdoor goal.
Gordon looked to chip away at the Bison's lead, outshooting the home team, 16-5 in the frame, including an 11-4 advantage in shots on goal. The Scots had a player advantage for seven minutes late in the game, but Forand stood tall, denying the Scots on eight penalty corners in the frame. Gordon held a 13-8 corner advantage in the game.
Gordon's Julie Moser was awarded a penalty stroke in the 66th minute, but her stroke sailed wide left of the cage.
Gordon keeper Anna Bury made seven saves in the loss, while Forand made 10 in the second half and six in the first.
Nichols takes a break from TCCC action Tuesday in a 7 p.m. game at WPI. Gordon hosts Babson Tuesday for a 6 p.m. non-conference game.
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