2007 NICHOLS COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY (16-7, 4-4- TCCC Finalists; ECAC Semifinalists)
The Nichols College field hockey team had a record-breaking season in 2007. The team set or tied a total of 13 records, including the most wins in the program’s history. The Bison, led by second-year Head Coach Kristan Mallet, finished the year 16-7 overall and advanced to The Commonwealth Coast Conference Finals for the first time in over a decade and to the ECAC Semifinals.
A 1-0 double overtime victory against the University of New England advanced Nichols to TCCC semifinals, where it upset top-seeded Gordon, 4-3, in overtime. The Bison fell to New England College, which has captured six straight TCCC titles, 4-2, in the finals. The season did not end there for the Bison though as they were selected to take part in the ECAC Championship. Nichols earned the #3 seed and defeated #6 seeded Castleton State 5-3 at home in the quarterfinals. A tough 1-0 loss to #2 seeded Bridgewater State ended the year.
Nichols finished the season ranked within the top 20 of six different statistical categories in the nation. The team’s 3.84 scoring average ranked fifth while their 4.0 goals per game average was third in the country. Nichols recorded 92 total goals, which shattered the previous school record of 59. The Bison averaged 2.7 assists per game which was third in the nation while their 10.7 points per game was fourth. Nichols scoring margin of 1.92 was 17th while its 10.87 penalty corners average ranked 18th.
Junior co-captain Brittney Case (Cambridge, N.Y.) was named to the All-TCCC First Team while freshman Eileen Clinton (Londonderry, N.H.) was named Rookie of the Year. In addition, freshman MaryKate Frodema (Springfield, Mass.) earned Second Team honors while sophomore Sara Bailey (Athol, Mass.) and Clinton received Honorable Mentions.
Nichols started its season off on a rough note losing to Keene State 6-2 on the road but that would be the team’s only loss in the month of September.
The Bison posted a 3-2 win over Clark to kick-start a seven game win streak. The win over the Cougars was a Nichols first in ten years. The Bison scored all of their goals in the first half as Clinton, Bailey, and junior Jacqueline Dwyer (Enfield, Conn.) scored.
Following a solid 5-0 shutout victory over Becker, Nichols recorded its first conference victory, a 5-0 shutout over Anna Maria, on Sept.15. Leading the Bison were Bailey and Clinton, who each tallied two goals and an assist.
Nichols captured back-to-back non-conference wins over MIT and WPI to improve to 5-1 on the season. The Bison then set two new team records in their 12-0 win over Regis on Sept. 22. Nichols 12 goals were the most ever scored in a game while its 30 total points were the most in a game.
The Bison then hosted TCCC powerhouse New England College on Sept. 26. The Bison held a 1-0 lead early before the Pilgrims scored midway in the half to tie things up at 1-1. In the second half, NEC out-scored the Bison 6-1 with NCAA leading scorer Amanda Lester scoring five of the goals and assisting on the other.
Nichols regained its winning momentum with convincing wins over Westfield St. and Endicott, running its record to 9-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference. The Bison went on to drop its next two TCCC games sandwiched around a 3-2 win over Worcester State. The University of New England benefited from a strong start, scoring a pair of goals in the opening 2:44 as Nichols was never able to recover, falling 4-1. The Bison put up a good fight over conference leader Gordon but fell 4-3 in overtime.
Following a 6-0 shutout over Fitchburg State on Oct. 15, Nichols lost another heart-breaker in overtime, 3-2, to Western New England College. The loss placed the Bison in a must-win situation against Salve Regina in order to qualify for the TCCC Tournament. Clinton scored three times to lead Nichols to the crucial 5-4 victory as it tied the school record for wins with 13 to end the regular season.
Senior Stephanie Magni (Newton, Mass.) closed out her Nichols career starting all 23 games on defense. A four-year letterwinner and two-year captain for the Bison, she was named Nichols’ Junior Female Athlete of the Year last May after completing successful seasons in both field hockey and softball. Magni helped lead Nichols to a record eight shutouts this season. Throughout her four years, the Bison recorded 31 victories, including 16 shutouts. Overall, she registered four goals and six assists in 69 games for 14 points.
Stephanie Magni’s Career Statistics
OFFENSE GP G A Pts Shots Shot% GW Dsv
2004................ 13 2 1 5 8 .250 0 0
2005................ 14 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1
2006................ 19 1 3 5 19 .053 0 1
2007................ 23 1 2 4 14 .071 0 2
TOTAL............... 69 4 6 14 41 .098 0 4
Case started all 23 games for the Bison on defense, helping lead them to one of their most successful seasons. She led the conference with ten defensive saves. Case was named Player of the Week once during the season.
Bailey led the Bison in scoring and was second in the conference with 22 goals along with eight assists for 52 points in 23 starts. Her 52 points, which ranked 24th in the country, set a new school record while her 22 goals tied the all-time record and were ranked 21st in the nation. She had seven multiple goal games along with four game-winning scores. Bailey was named TCCC Player of the Week once this season.
Clinton finished second in scoring for Nichols with 17 goals and 12 assists for 46 points in 23 starts. Her 46 points set a new rookie record at Nichols and ranked 35th in the country. Clinton’s 17 goals ranked third in the conference while her 12 assists were tied for second. She was named Rookie of the Week four times during the season, leading to Rookie of the Year honors.
Frodema started all 23 games for Nichols at midfield, leading the team and ranking 16th in the nation with 13 assists, which ranked first in TCCC and set a new seasonal record at Nichols. She also added six goals to finish fourth on the team with 25 points.
Junior Lauren Pettoruto (Windham, N.H.) finished third for the Bison in points with 29 this season, playing in 23 games, including 19 starts. She ranked fourth on the team with nine goals, including four game-winners, and third with 11 assists. She earned Player of the Week honors twice during the season.
Sophomore Emily Stearns (Mansfield, Mass.) played and started in all 23 games while finishing with 18 points, eight goals and two assists. She ranked second on the team in defensive saves with three while her eight goals were fifth.
Sophomore goaltender MaryKate Bednarz (Springfield, Mass.) had a school record eight shutouts this season, which also ranked first in TCCC. She once again played every minute in net this season, posting a 1.92 goals against average, which ranked fifth in the conference, along with 46 saves.
Sophomore Marie Kauker (Bellingham, Mass.) played in 21 games, including 13 starts. She tallied two assists on defense for the Bison.
Freshman Amber Cottrell (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.) played in all 23 games starting 21 of them. She finished with six goals and nine assists for 21 points. Her six goals were tied for sixth on the squad while her nine assists were fourth. Cottrell earned Rookie of the Week honors once during the season.
Freshman Samantha Lacerra (Watertown, Mass.) played in 23 games, starting 12 while finishing with 24 points off 12 goals this season. Her 12 goals ranked third on the team. She was named Rookie of the Week once during the season.
Sophomore Beverly Burrill (Bridgewater, Mass.) played in 21 games, earning a starting role in the second half of the season. She recorded one goal and two assists for four points on the year.
Junior Jackie Dwyer (Enfield, Conn.) saw action in 19 games, earning 11 starts. She posted five goals along with three assists for 13 points.
Freshman Courtney Flagg (Spofford, N.H.) played in 12 games, including two starts. She had three goals for six points.
Junior Ashley Bell (Mansfield, Mass.) saw action in 13 games, including one start in her first year on the team.
The Commonwealth Coast Conference Awards
First Team All-TCCC-Brittany Case
Second Team All-TCCC-MaryKate Frodema
Honorable Mention All-TCCC-Sara Bailey
Honorable Mention All-TCCC-Eileen Clinton
TCCC Rookie of the Year-Eileen Clinton
Team Records
Wins in a season-16
Shutouts in a season-8
Goals in a season-92
Scoring average in a season-3.84
Assists in a game-12 (vs. Regis 9/22)
Assists in a season-64
Points in a game-30 (vs. Regis 9/22 & Elms 10/22)
Points in a season-248
Individual Records
Goals in a season (tied): Sara Bailey-22
Assists in a season: MaryKate Frodema-13; Eileen Clinton-12;
Lauren Pettoruto (tied)-11
Points in a season: Sara Bailey-52
Goaltender shutouts in season: MaryKate Bednarz-8
