<strong>DUDLEY, Mass. (Nov. 4)</strong> – Four members of the Nichols College field hockey team have been named All-Commonwealth Coast Conference, it was announced late Thursday by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. Junior midfielder/back
Emily Widdison earned First Team honors, while first year forward
Avery Orszulak, junior forward
Barbara Roy and senior midfielder
Krista-Jean Forand all earned Second Team accolades.<br />
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Widdison makes her third-straight appearance on an All-CCC Team, and second overall on the First Team. The product of Greenfield High School transitioned from the midfield to the back early on in the season, but played multiple roles for the Bison all year. Her ability to command the field regardless of position led her to a team-high 31 points on a squad-best 14 goals and three assists. She also led the team with four game-winning goals, three of which came in conference play. She scored four goals – including three-straight to win the game – at Western New England on October 27th to help the Bison secure their playoff spot, earning CCC and ECAC Player of the Week honors for her efforts.<br />
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Orszulak transitioned quickly to the college game after joining the Bison from Cathedral High School in Springfield this year. She scored nine goals and added five assists to notch 23 points during her rookie campaign. She posted a career-high seven points in a home win against Salve Regina on October 15th, netting her first career hat trick and an assist en route to CCC Player of the Week honors. <br />
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Roy, also a product of Cathedral, made her second-straight All-CCC appearance after a nod on the Second Team last season. A crafty forward, Roy is an even playmaker, netting seven goals and six assists for 20 points in 18 games. She was the only Bison to attempt – and convert – a penalty stroke, providing the go-ahead goal in a home win against Gordon on September 17.<br />
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Forand played her first full season out on the field after manning the net during her first two seasons. The Hebron Academy graduate was named NFHCA All-Region and to the CCC First Team as goalkeeper and now sees her first All-CCC honor as a midfielder after starting all 18 games and recording 18 points on nine goals. She started the year on a three-game scoring streak and later had Salve Regina’s number with game-winning goals in both matchups, scoring a pair of goals in each game.<br />
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Nichols returned to the CCC playoffs for the seventh year in a row and sixth under Head Coach
Kristan Mallet. The Bison finished the year outscoring opponents by a five-goal margin, and saw five players record double-digit point totals. Nichols finished with a record of .500 or better for the third consecutive season and graduates only four seniors.<br />
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<strong>First Team</strong><br />
Emily Widdison, B, Jr.<br />
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<strong>Second Team</strong><br />
Avery Orszulak, F, Fr.<br />
Barbara Roy, F, Jr.<br />
Krista-Jean Forand, M, Sr.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thecommonwealthcoastconference.com/news/2011/11/3/allcccfh11.aspx">Full CCC Release</a><br />