FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Nichols College men's soccer team defeated Fitchburg State 4-1 in non-conference action Wednesday evening to move to 6-4-1 on the season.
 
The Bison jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the half before adding another three minutes into the second half and both teams exchanging goals in the last four minutes.
 
Senior Mike Kelley (Braintree, Mass.) - who scored the first two goals of his career in the game - potted his first goal at 12:27 on an assist from sophomore Cole Houghton (Gorham, Maine) to get the scoring started. The Bison took a two-goal lead at 37:40 when senior Ryan Banker (Ashaway, R.I.) put one in the back of the net. Sophomore Gregory Giglio (Deer Park, N.Y.) was credited with the assist on the goal.
 
Nichols outshot Fitchburg 10-6 in the first half and 20-15 for the game.
 
Kelley got things started in the second half exactly three minutes into play when he was able to score his second goal of the game. At 86:05 the Falcons were finally able to get on the board when freshman Matthew Krikorian (Groton, Mass.) beat the keeper to cut the deficit back to two goals.
 
Less than two minutes later, freshman Corey McEvoy (Bohemia, N.Y.) notched his first collegiate goal to cap off the scoring for the game.
 
Sophomore Patrick Porpora (Westminster, Mass.) – the reigning Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Defensive Player of the Week – made five saves in the win. Sophomore Connor Smith (York, Maine) stopped two shots in the loss for the Falcons.
 
All-Time Series
The Bison have now broken a two-game losing streak to the Falcons and lead the all-time series at 11-9-4.
 
Next Games
Nichols (7-4-1) – Saturday, October 8 at Wentworth, 3:00 p.m.
Fitchburg St. (2-7-1) – Friday, October 7 at Mass. Maritime, 7:00 p.m.