SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (10/31/23) – The Nichols College field hockey team's 2023 season came to a close with a 4-0 loss to the Golden Bears of Western New England in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Quarterfinals on Tuesday evening from Golden Bear Stadium.

Junior Sophia Venable made nine saves in the effort for the Bison. Nichols was making their first CCC playoff appearance since 2013.  

Western New England opened the scoring just under the six-minute mark of the first quarter to break a 0-0 tie. The Golden Bears rattled off three more goals in the second quarter to jump out to a 4-0 lead at the half. The Bison earned a couple of penalty corners in the first half but were unable to capitalize on the chances.

In the second half neither team found the back of the net as the defenses on both sides did great jobs to keep the scoring ay bay. Venable may have been the best defensive weapon in the second half for the Bison. She made a couple if key saves on penalty corners and save through traffic to keep the second half scoreless.

The season comes to a close with the Bison falling to the Golden Bears in the quarterfinals.