Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 17) – The Nichols College field hockey team edged Gordon College, 3-2, in an intense Commonwealth Coast Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Vendetti Field. The game was tied, 1-1, at the break before Barbara Roy scored on a penalty stroke and then assisted on a late goal from Emily Widdison to hold on to the victory.

Lauren Correia put Nichols on the board early, depositing her own rebound after a flurry of shots in front of Gordon keeper Anna Bury. Kelsey Spotts made a key stop for the Scots before Bury made the next, but Correia seized the rebound and put Nichols ahead just 5:51 into the game.

The Scots didn't get near the Nichols cage until after the 10 minute mark, but Carli Balmer made good use of her shot, the first on net for the visitors, when she picked up a deflected shot from Samantha Neverett and sent in a long shot that hit the corner of the cage at 12:27 to knot the game.

The pace picked up for the remainder of the opening half, with play transitioning quickly from end to end. At the start of the second half, however, Gordon controlled the ball for the first minutes until Nichols drew a penalty stroke in the midst of a corner set. Roy's goal turned the momentum in the Bison's favor.

The drive was short-lived, however, as Clara Baker, who had just substituted onto the field, fired at Nichols keeper Molly Melanson. Melanson made the save, but the ball came out to the top of the circle where Neverett slipped it back through traffic and into the opposite corner to tie the game again, 2-2.

The Bison had an opportunity off their next penalty corner less than a minute later, but Bury made a big stop on Avery Orszulak's attempt. Nichols changed its approach in the next corner opportunity five minutes later, this time with Roy accepting it wide and feeding a flat pass to Widdison at the top of the circle. Widdison wound up for a high shot that deflected off Bury's stick and into the cage for the game-winner at 60:08.

Melanson picked up the win with five saves. Bury stopped nine shots and was aided by two defensive saves from Spotts.

Nichols returns to action Wednesday evening in a 7 p.m. non-conference home game against MIT. Gordon hosts Framingham State in a 7 p.m. non-conference game Tuesday. 


Box Score