VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. – The Nichols College women's lacrosse team earned a 13–9 victory  knocking off the Virginia Wesleyan University Marlins Thursday afternoon in Virginia Beach as part of their Spring Break trip.

With the win, the Bison elevate to 2-1 (0-0 CNE) while the Marlins drop to 4-3 (0-0 ODAC).

The Bison offense was led by first year Kaylyn Bourque and graduate student Ali Vozzo, who each recorded three goals to pace Nichols in the victory. Emma Patton and Macy Abrams each added two goals and an assist, while Cali Melo contributed across the board with one goal and two assists. Nichols also received scoring from Gabriella Mandirola and Makala Dube, as the Bison produced 13 goals on 35 shots with six assists in the balanced offensive effort.

Defensively, Patton led the team with six ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Bourque controlled possession with a game-high nine draw controls. In goal, Briar Slattery played the full 60 minutes and recorded five saves and faced 17 shots to secure the 13–9 win for Nichols.

The match opened with the Marlins jumping out to an early 2–0 lead, scoring their second goal just 47 seconds after the first. Nichols responded quickly, putting together a three-goal run to take the lead. Emma Patton started the surge with a putback goal, followed by Kaylyn Bourque, who took the draw herself and went coast-to-coast for the score. Macy Abrams capped the run off a feed from Cali Melo. Virginia Wesleyan answered late in the quarter with three goals of their own to close the opening frame.

Nichols responded early in the second quarter as Bourque and Patton each found the back of the net for their second goals of the game, while Melo added her first to even the score. After a brief lull in scoring, the Bison kept the pressure on, adding two more before halftime with goals from Ali Vozzo and Bourque, who recorded her third of the game to send Nichols into the break with an 8–7 lead.

The third period opened with Nichols controlling possession before Vozzo found the back of the net at the 11:06 mark off an assist from Melo, extending the Bison lead to 9–7. Nichols continued to capitalize on opportunities as Makala Dube converted on a man-up chance from Patton, pushing the advantage to three. The Bison kept the pressure on moments later when Mandirola finished a feed from Dube, stretching the lead to 11–7. Virginia Wesleyan answered late in the quarter with a man-up goal at the 4:12 mark, cutting the deficit to 11–8 heading into the final period.

The final period saw Nichols continue to apply pressure offensively, creating several early chances before Abrams broke through at the 7:44 mark off an assist from Catherine Vetter, extending the Bison lead to 12–8. Nichols added insurance minutes later when Vozzo finished a feed from Abrams, pushing the advantage to 13–8. Virginia Wesleyan managed one late goal, but the Bison defense held firm down the stretch to secure the 13–9 victory.

The Bison return home for their next contest, hosting the Gordon College Fighting Scots in their conference opener on Tuesday, March 17th at Vendetti Field.