Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 28) – The Nichols College field hockey team made three first-half goals stand Wednesday evening in a 3-0 non-conference victory over visiting Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) on Vendetti Field. Led by a pair of goals from junior Barbara Roy, the Bison dealt the Engineers (7-2) just their second loss of the season and first shutout loss since last October 16. Nichols (5-2) also received a goal and an assist from junior Emily Widdison in the Bison's first shutout win since October 23 of last season.

Widdison put Nichols on the board in the 12th minute. After receiving a corner placement from Chelsea Correia at the top of the circle, Widdison dodged in two steps and fired in a long shot that found the left corner of the cage.

Roy added to the lead at 25:02 when she dribbled past the Engineers' diving keeper, Liz Dufresne, and tapped the ball toward the opposite side where it dribbled in over the line under the watchful eye of Krista-Jean Forand who was stationed at the far post.

Widdison connected with Roy for the final tally with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. Widdison wound up for a shot around the 35 yard line. The ball streaked into the circle for Roy to tip it high past Dufresne's stick side.

Nichols' Molly Melanson earned the win with five saves in 67 minutes in net before bowing out to Emily Mercure. They were aided by four defensive saves by the Bison, including two in a row from Jenn Townsend.

Dufresne made four saves, and was key in stopping the Bison's final seven penalty corners. Katye Milligan also had a key defensive stop on a Nichols corner.

The Engineers outshot their hosts, 17-9, but struggled to find the net, placing only nine on the cage to the Bison's eight.

Nichols returns to action Friday to kick of Homecoming Weekend with a 7 p.m. Commonwealth Coast Conference game against Western New England. WPI hosts Babson Saturday at 1 p.m. in a NEWMAC contest.


Box Score