NICHOLS ATHLETICS CALENDAR
 
DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College Division of Athletics welcomes competition back to The Hill for the first time in the 2022-23 school year on Thursday, Sept. 1 as four programs compete at home, kicking off the fall action: field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer, women's volleyball.
 
Following opening day, men's and women's cross country and football will compete on Friday before the rest of the fall teams begin their conquests over the course of the next two weeks.
 
Men's and Women's Cross Country
Men's Schedule / Men's Roster
Women's Schedule / Women's Roster
 
Returners to the men's side for 2022 include Shawn Tobin (Bennington, Vt.), Domenic Savastano (Burrillville, R.I.), Jack Hearn (Sutton, Mass.), and Ryan Rispoli (Mansfield, Mass.)
 
In last year's CCC Championship, Tobin posted an 8k time of 27:36, finishing ninth in the 120-man field.
 
"The team has embraced change within the first few weeks of the season and already has shown so much progress," said Norton. "We are all incredibly determined to create a memorable season."
 
Esports
Schedule / Roster
 
Tyler Dunn begins his stint as the head coach for the Bison Esports program in 2022-23, putting together a competitive Rocket League squad for the opening semester.
 
"I look forward to helping the team refine and establish itself on campus, I hope to mentor, lead, and coach them to being not only great athletes but great student-athletes," Dunn stated. "Our team has set a goal of having the highest GPA on campus by spring. We are looking forward to competing and punching above to be the top Esports team in the nation.  I look forward to our first competition this Monday, and to a fruitful season throughout the year.
 
The Esports Rocket League slate will begin Monday, Sept. 5 against an opponent to be determined.
 
Field Hockey
Schedule / Roster
 
The Nichols field hockey program looks to improve on last year's success under third-year head coach Laura-Ann Lane.
 
The Bison are returning eight players from the 2021 campaign, including key contributors Dana Edwards (Groveland, Mass.), Sam Ahaesy (Dartmouth, Mass.), Erin Anthony (Somers, Conn.), and goalkeeper Sophia Venable (Troy, N.Y). Joining the group in Dudley are six freshmen who look to make an immediate impact on the pitch for Nichols.
 
"From what we have seen thus far Team #43 is ready for a great 2022. All of the returners took the time to get to know and welcome our freshmen to the program over the spring and summer," said Lane. "It is truly going to be an exciting season here in Dudley - that is for sure."

The Bison open the 2022 campaign at home Sept. 1 against Bridgewater State at 7 p.m.
 
Football
Schedule / Roster
 
Dale Olmsted begins his ninth season as the head football coach at Nichols College in 2022, bringing back key returners such as 2021 CCC Second-Team selection Hunter Ferreira (Mansfield, Mass.)
 
Ferreira, a graduate student, returns to Dudley with hopes to build off an impressive senior year where he finished third in the CCC in receptions (55), recorded 60-or-more receiving yards six times, and racked up a career-best 98 yards in a matchup at UNE.
 
"The team has worked very hard in preseason camp, and we are excited to get the season underway," said Olmsted.
 
The Bison will face four non-conference opponents before lining up against Western New England in their CCC opener on Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.
 
Men's Golf
Schedule / Roster
 
Nichols men's golf, led by head coach Tim Howard, who enters his eighth season at the helm in 2022-23. After besting the eight-team field in the CCC qualifier last fall, the squad played host to the conference championship match on May 1.
 
"I'm really excited about the upcoming season, we have lots of competitive tournaments on the schedule, and look to qualify for the CCC Championship this upcoming October."
 
Returning to the team in 2022 is reigning CCC Player of the Year Colby Mitchell (Gloucester, Mass.) Mitchell posted an average of 73.55 strokes per match played in the 2021-22 season, including a season-best 68 at the Farmingdale Spring Invitational.
 
"Having Colby [Mitchell] as a captain and as the reigning CCC Player of the Year is a great feeling to have and seeing him push the others to catch him is exactly what I love to see in my captain."  
 
The team tees off at the Farmingdale St. Invitational on Sept. 16 – 18 as the tune-up for the CCC Qualifer the following Thursday.
 
Men's Soccer
Schedule / Roster
 
The Nichols men's soccer program looks to make its way back to the CCC playoffs under 17-year head coach Chris Traina.
 
The Bison are returning six members of their starting line, who will be joined by 11 first-year players. Graduate student and 2021 leading scorer Nicholas McGrath (Northborough, Mass.) will look to lead the forward line while sophomore netminder Franco Barreto Santana (Leominster, Mass.) will look to hold down the back line.
 
"As we approach the start of the 2022 season, I am pleased with both the energy and passion our guys have brought to camp," said Traina. "We look forward to competing in one of the toughest conferences in the Northeast. We are a very "young" team; with the majority of the program being made up as underclassmen. That being said, they have all brought a welcome 'spark' to the new 2022 roster."
 
The Bison open their season on Sept. 1 at home against Fisher. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
Women's Soccer
Schedule / Roster
 
The Nichols women's soccer program begins its first season under head coach Angel Mogel. The majority of the 2021 roster will return for the Bison and will be joined by ten new players. Second leading scorer junior Grace Killman (Medway, Mass.) (5G, 2A) will hold down the offensive line along with senior Niah Samboy (Berlin, Conn.) (3G, 1A).
 
"I am so grateful to have the opportunity to lead, mentor, and coach such an incredible group of dedicated, talented, and hardworking women," noted Mogel. "We look forward to proving that we can compete and succeed in the CCC. I am confident we will make great strides this season. We are ready and excited for the season to begin!"
 
The Bison open their season on Sept. 1st at home against MCLA. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.


Men's and Women's Tennis
Men's Schedule / Men's Roster
Women's Schedule / Women's Roster
 
First-year head coach Ron Gendron comes to The Hill after a 16-season stint at Bryant University, where he secured 200 career victories, and looks to further the success of the men's and women's tennis program this fall.
 
"It's been a great preseason," said Gendron. "Returners have embraced a new culture at practice and our freshmen are hardworking and respectful.  We are optimistic to improve on last year's results and compete for a CCC title."
 
The women kick off their 2022-23 slate at the Colby Sawyer Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 4, while the men wait until Saturday, Sept. 10 to open the action at the Stonehill Doubles Invitational.
 
Women's Volleyball
Schedule / Roster
 
Entering his second season at the helm of the Nichols women's volleyball program, Casey Fitzpatrick looks to improve on last season's CCC record with the help of both returners and newcomers.
 
"We are looking forward to the start of the 2022-23 season," said Fitzpatrick. "There has been lots of focus and energy in the gym and are we eager to start competing."
 
Key returners for the Bison include Ryley Plourde (Bristol, Conn.), Haylee Granato (Manchester, Conn.), Jayleen Fegan (Mansfield Center, Conn.), and Liz Dorio (Wolcott, Conn.)
 
Coming to The Hill hoping to make an instant impact is sophomore Luna Colozzo (Winchester, Mass.) and freshmen Kya Burdier (Haverhill, Mass.) and Sydney Ball (Enfield, Conn.)
 
The Bison will kick off their campaign in the friendly confines of Nichols Athletic Center on Thursday, Sept. 1, when they play host to Fisher at 7 p.m.