DUDLEY, Mass. (4/10/24) - The Nichols College women's lacrosse team downed Curry College, 18-11 in conference play on Wednesday afternoon at Vendetti Field.  

The Bison continue to build upon their record-breaking season by tying the program record for most wins, improving to 11-3 (2-2 CCC) overall. With the loss, the Colonels drop to 4-9 (0-4 CCC). 

Sophomore attacker Caitlin Welch continued her scoring run for the Bison with a career-high five-goal performance, bringing her to four consecutive games with at least a goal. Junior attacker Paige Alexander also set a career-high in single-game goals, scoring four times with one assist for five points. Junior midfielder Hadley Houghton contributed three points, while also tallying a match-high 12 draw controls. Sophomore attacker Makala Dube played the role of maestro with five assists, and also added one goal for six points.  

From the opening draw, the Bison never trailed in the contest and took the lead just 49 seconds into the action off a slicing shot from Welch. Back-to-back goals from Houghton and first-year attacker Gabriella Mandirola increased the Bison lead to 3-0, with just under three minutes played in the frame. The Colonels got a goal back just before the eleven-minute mark, but failed to deter the Bison who went on to close the quarter on a 5-2 run, using goals from four different players to take a commanding 8-3 into the second quarter. 

The second frame was no different for the Bison, who snatched the first three goals of the period including Alexander's third of the game in the 9th minute to further the lead to 11-3. The Colonels answered with three quick goals before sophomore Emma Patton etched her name into the stat sheet by sending a shot into the back of the net, increasing the Bison lead to 12-6 at halftime.  

The Colonels secured the first two goals of the third quarter, but Alexander and Welch answered back with back-to-back strikes in less than a minute to make it a 14-8 game. Just before the end of the quarter, the Colonels scored twice to pull within four at 14-10, but Nichols seized control the rest of the way by scoring four of the final five goals in the game. Down the stretch, Welch completed her hat trick performance with seven minutes to play, while junior Kristen Ruby scored her seventh of the season to wrap up the offense in an 18-11 final score.  

Sophomore goalkeeper Briar Slattery (10-3) picked up the win for Nichols, recording 10 saves with two ground balls. 

The Bison will now kick off a two-game road trip, starting with a visit to Roger Williams University (6-7, 5-0 CCC) on Tuesday, April 16th. The opening draw is slated for 7:00 PM at Bayside Field.