BIDDEFORD, Maine (4/27/24) - A late push by the Nichols College Women's Lacrosse team fell short as the Bison were bested by the University of New England in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Quarterfinal round on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 11-10. 

With the loss, the Bison finish out the year with a 12-6 (3-4 CCC) overall record, while the advancing Nor'easters improve to 7-9 (4-3 CCC). 

Junior midfielder Hadley Houghton added to her record-breaking campaign, recording her 26th free-position goal of the season to claim the program record for most in a single season. Houghton also picked up five ground balls and three draw controls. Junior defender McKenzie Muir was a disruptor on both sides of the field, bagging three points and forcing four turnovers marking her 100th career-caused turnover to become the first Bison to reach the milestone. Sophomore Emma Patton and first-year Gabriella Mandirola combined for four goals, while junior duo of Ali Vozzo and Paige Alexander each scored a goal to round out the scoring for the Bison. 

Nichols found themselves trailing 4-0 late in the 2nd quarter when Junior Kristen Ruby fed a pass to a streaking Mandirola who then rifled a shot past the Nor'easter's goalkeeper to secure the first goal of the game for the Bison and lessen UNE's lead to 4-1. Three minutes later, Vozzo scored her second goal of the season to bring the Bison within two, before Patton closed the quarter with a free-position goal with three seconds remaining to make it a 4-3 game heading into the halftime break. 

The Nor'easters came out swinging in the third quarter, scoring two goals in two minutes to strengthen their lead to 6-3. It was Patton who pulled one back for the Bison, but the Nor'easters responded with another goal to make the score 7-4. Nichols took advantage of their lone man-up opportunity of the third frame courtesy of a Houghton goal to pull back within two. After another response from the Nor'easters, Houghton converted a free position attempt to bring the score to 8-6 heading into the final quarter. 

The first two goals of the final period came from the Nor'easters and allowed them to take a commanding 10-6 lead with 12:56 to play. After trading goals, the Bison found themselves once again trailing by four with under eight minutes to play. However, Muir sparked a Bison run, scoring two goals and assisting Mandirola to bring the Bison within one with 2:22 to play. The Nor'easters showcased stone wall defense in the final minutes to deny the Bison of their comeback and closed the game with an 11-10 victory. 

Sophomore goalkeeper Briar Slattery recorded 11 saves in the contest, finishing out the year tied for first all-time in single season wins (10).