Box Score

BRISTOL, R.I. – Senior Nicole Simeone (Ashland, Mass.) scored her first goal of the season 56 seconds into overtime as the Nichols College field hockey team rallied from a last second-half deficit to defeat Roger Williams University, 5-4, in overtime Wednesday night.

Senior Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) added a pair of goals while seniors Jenn Townsend (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Andrea Wilson (Bedford, N.H.) also found the back of the net as the Bison (3-11, 1-7 CCC) snapped a nine-game losing skid and earned their first conference win of the season.

Nichols erased a three-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation behind goals from Orszulak at 61:47 and 67:41, respectively, before Wilson knotted the game at four with 39 seconds left in regulation. Just after the opening draw of OT, Simone took a pass from Orszulak and banged in the game-winner.

The Hawks grabbed the lead in the ninth minute of the game. Stephanie Yaeger (Gansevoort, N.Y.) sent a pass to Meghan Curran (West Milford, N.J.) to her right inside the scoring arc. Curran crossed a shot to the left corner for her 10th goal of the year.

RWU doubled its lead in the 20th minute. Alexandra Baxter (Groton, Mass.) brought the ball into the arc and faked a shot up the middle, instead passing to her left to Abby Treweek (Lakeville, Mass.). Treweek was able to get behind the defense and tap in the one-time pass to give the Hawks the 2-0 lead.

The Hawks added their third goal with just under two minutes remaining in the first half. Juliana Miccile (Upton, Mass.) brought the ball down the right side, with Curran streaking up the middle. Miccile made a pass to Curran as she was crossing in front of the goal. Curran then backhanded the shot into the left side, giving RWU the 3-0 advantage heading into halftime.

Nichols got on the board in the 38th minute when Orszulak dropped a pass back to Townsend, who put her shot through a crowded arc and into the left corner.

From there, the Bison began to build offensive momentum, but were unable to convert on a couple of good opportunities. Wilson had a point-blank shot on net in the 45th minute but hooked her shot wide left. A few minutes later, Nichols had a goal called off via a foul in the arc.

Miccile gave Roger Williams a 4-1 lead in the 60th minute as she brought the ball down into the arc and put the shot to the left side. Orszulak's team-leading eighth marker of the season less than a minute later pulled the Bison to within two at 4-2. She put the ball in off of a penalty corner by Townsend.

Less than six minutes later, Orszulak scored again, this time off of deflected save from a shot by freshman Brianna Kilborn (North Brookfield, Mass.) to pull the Bison within one. Nichols got some extra help with two minutes left, as the Hawks picked up both a green card and yellow card, forcing two RWU student-athletes off the field. Wilson knocked in a loose ball in the arc with 39 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Senior Emily Mercure (Milton, Vt.) came on in relief of sophomore Katherine Cotton (Kennebunk, Maine) in the second half and made five saves to earn the win. Melora Lavoie (Poland, Maine) had five saves for the Hawks.

Both teams will face off against Gordon College next, with the Hawks playing the Fighting Scots on Saturday while Nichols plays them on Tuesday.

Contributions from Roger Williams sports information