HARTFORD, Conn. (4/3/24) – Junior midfielder Hadley Houghton became the all-time leader in both career goals (187) and points (236) for the Nichols College women's lacrosse team on Wednesday night, scoring four goals in a 16-10 loss at the University of Hartford.  

The loss is the second in a row for the Bison, who fall to 10-2 (1-1 CCC) overall. Hartford improves to 4-5 with the win.

Houghton's four goals came off six total shot attempts, while the junior also collected four draw controls. Sophomore Emma Patton was also a four-point producer on the evening, scoring two goals with two assists and five draw controls. Defensively, junior Kaleigh Seal contributed two new career-high marks in ground balls (4) and caused turnovers (3), while junior McKenzie Muir picked up a match-high seven draw controls.

After a quick free position goal by the Nichols' Patton to start the first quarter, Houghton fired an unassisted shot into the net at the just 44 seconds later to make it a 2-0 game for the Bison. After Hartford cut the deficit to one, Houghton restored the two-goal lead with her second of the game on a separate free position attempt, bringing the score to 3-1 with 10:01 to play. Hartford then replied with four unanswered goals to make it a 5-3 game, before the Bison finished out the frame with consecutive goals from Makala Dube and Caitlin Welch to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the second.

The Bison and Hawks then exchanged goals with Houghton scoring her third of the contest to make the score 6-6 at the 11:33 mark of the second quarter. However, the Bison would then go scoreless through the next eight minutes of play while Hartford tacked on three unanswered goals, with two coming a player up, to give the Hawks a 9-6 edge. After failing to register a goal down the eight-minute stretch, the Bison closed the half on a high note with a pair of late strikes from Gabriella Mandirola and Houghton, make the score 9-8 after 30 minutes of play. 

Nichols struggled to find their groove in the second half as they were outscored by Hartford 7-2.  Welch and Patton were the lone scorers in the half for the Bison, with Dube pitching in with a helper on the Welch goal.

In goal, sophomore Briar Slattery (9-2) shouldered the loss after making nine saves on 25 shots.

Women's lacrosse will return to Vendetti Field this coming Saturday, April 6^th for a Senior Day showdown against University of New England (4-6, 2-1 CCC). The Bison will celebrate the team's two graduating seniors prior to the opening draw, which is set for 4:00 PM.