Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. – Senior Amanda Broughton (Plymouth, Mass.) executed a perfect penalty corner with junior Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) on the game-winning goal early in the second half as the Nichols College field hockey team upended Endicott College 2-1 Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) field hockey action at Vendetti Field.

Junior Andrea Wilson (New Bedford, N.H.) also scored for the Bison (5-10, 5-4 CCC), who have won three-straight and four of their last six. The win also snaps a six-game losing streak to the Gulls, whose last loss to Nichols came in Beverly on Oct. 12, 2010 (2-1 in OT).

On the game-winning goal, Broughton inserted the ball from the right side of the cage to Orszulak at the top of the circle. Broughton then parked herself at the left post, and Orszulak sent a slap-pass that Broughton redirected while down on one knee for her fifth of the season at 5:34 into the second half.

"That was a textbook corner. That's how you practice and hope it works out," said Nichols head coach Kristan Mallet. "Two touches and it's in. Amanda and Avery did what they were asked to do, and it was the difference."

The Nichols defense held the Gulls to six shots the rest of the way as junior Nicole Simeone (Ashland, Mass.) and sophomores Victoria Utter (Stafford Springs, Conn.) and Meghan Dombkowski (Sagaponack, N.Y.) stymied the visitors.

"We don't talk about the games from earlier this season. Right now, our focus is one half at a time, one game at a time, and one team at a time," said Mallet. "We refocused our energy a few weeks ago when we looked at the rest of our conference schedule and where we were in the standings. We took a nice little break, and then things started clicking with some of our players who were struggling. Instead of having seven consistent performers on the field at one time, we now have 11, and that has been the difference."

Endicott opened the scoring at 12:49 when junior and leading scorer Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) knocked in a rebound for her 10th of the season. Nichols tied the game 1:20 later when Orszulak sent a pass from the right side to Wilson, who redirected the pass into the cage for her fifth marker of 2013.

Nichols outshot Endicott 31-16 on the afternoon – including 19-9 in the first half – and held a 15-5 edge in penalty corners. Junior Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) recorded 11 saves to lift her record to 5-10 on the season. Endicott senior netminder Lizetta Solarik (Carmel, N.Y.) registered 17 saves in defeat.

The Bison host Western New England Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Vendetti Field. Prior to the contest, Broughton and classmate Emalee Watkins (Malden, Mass.) will be honored on Senior Night. The Gulls (7-8, 4-5 CCC) host Gordon Tuesday at 4 p.m.