DUDLEY, Mass. – Junior Brianna Kilborn (North Brookfield, Mass.) scored her first goal of the season 6:20 into overtime to lift the Nichols College field hockey team to a 2-1 win over Mount Ida in the season-opener for both schools Thursday afternoon in non-conference action at Vendetti Field.
 
The Mustangs outshot the Bison 7-2 in the opening half and led 1-0 at the break behind a goal from sophomore Sarah Hemstock (Northford, Conn.), who scored in close from the right side at 31:30.
 
Nichols responded with a strong second half, outshooting the Mustangs 8-1, and tied the game on the first collegiate goal from freshman Erin Kelley (Dighton, Mass.) at 46:38. Later in the stanza, Kilborn had a pair of scoring chances that nearly put the Bison ahead, only to be denied twice by freshman goalie Grace Ryan (Livermore Falls, Maine).
 
In overtime, Kelley got off a shot near the right side that Ryan turned aside, but the rebound came to Kilborn, who put it into the left side of the net for the winner.
 
Freshman Brooke Misbach (Guilford, Conn.) came on to start the second half in the cage for Nichols and made two saves to earn her first collegiate win. Senior Brooke Marion (South Hadley, Mass.) recorded two defensive saves in the first half for the Bison. Ryan finished with eight saves.
 
All-Time Series
Today's contest marked the third all-time meeting between Mount Ida College and Nichols College. The win moves the Bison to 3-0 lifetime against the Mustangs.
 
Quotes
"I saw an opportunity when the rebound came out and wanted to put it into the back of the net." –Nichols senior Brianna Kilborn, on the GWG
 
"We worked on what we needed to in the second half and did a good job adjusting, starting with our passing game." – Kilborn, on the team's second-half adjustments
 
"At halftime, we needed our newer players to make some big-time adjustments. We have a lot of new players in the midfield and up front, and they went back and played that comfortable high school-style and not the style we need to be playing. It was clear that those adjustments gave us better possessions in the second half. The importance of this game was just being 1-0, and to work on the things we've been practicing and apply them to games." –Nichols head coach Kristan Mallet
 
Next Games
Nichols (1-0) – Saturday, September 3 vs Thomas (ME), 1:00 p.m.
Mount Ida (0-1) – Saturday, September 3 @ Salve Regina, 1:00 p.m.