2007 NICHOLS COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOCCER (8-11, 5-8)
The Nichols women’s soccer team doubled its win output from a year ago with an 8-11 overall record but missed qualifying for the playoffs by just one point with a 5-8 TCCC mark. Under the direction of second-year Head Coach Bob Fuqua, the Bison broke several individual game records early in the season as they began the year 7-2 overall.
After losing its first game of the season, Nichols captured four straight victories including its first conference win at home against the University of New England by a score of 1-0. Freshman Nicole Johnson (Westhampton, Mass.) started in goal in the first half with eight saves and in the second, scored the game winning goal with 17 minutes left to play. For her efforts, she was named TCCC Rookie of the Week. Prior to the UNE game, Nichols dominated games against Pine Manor and Newbury College, outscoring its opponents 19-0. The team’s 10-0 win over Pine Manor set a new school records for goals, assists and points in a game. All four victories came by way of the shutout, a new Nichols record.
After falling to Roger Williams, the Bison went on another three game winning streak, all coming in conference play. Wins over Salve Regina, Regis and Anna Maria moved their record to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
Facing a tougher conference schedule and plagued by injuries, Nichols struggled in the second half of the season, as it ended the year losing nine of its last ten games. Despite not scoring a goal in eight games, the Bison finished tied for fourth in scoring in the conference with 2.0 goals per game. Next year looks promising for the young team as all 17 of its players saw action in nearly every game this season.
Senior Christina Palmerino (Southbridge, Mass.) finished her career playing in 72 games, which ranks seventh all time in the women’s soccer record book. This year, she received an All-TCCC Honorable Mention as she helped Nichols to seven shutouts while scoring two goals and two assists. One of her two goals was the game winner against Eastern Nazarene in which the Bison won 4-0. Palmerino, who also plays softball for the Bison, was named the Sophomore Female Athlete of the Year at Nichols at the end of the season 2005-06 season.
Christina Palmerino Career Statistics
OFFENSE GP G A Pts Shots GW
2004 19 0 0 0 10 0
2005 17 1 1 3 8 1
2006 18 3 1 7 22 0
2007 18 2 2 6 11 1
TOTAL 72 6 4 16 51 2
Senior Meghan McManus (Northboro, Mass) had her best game of the year on senior night, recording two goals in the first half. She played in 18 games, starting 17 of them. For her career, she played in 63 games with nine goals and two assists for 20 points.
Meghan McManus’ Career Statistics
OFFENSE GP G A Pts Shots GW
2004 13 1 0 2 17 0
2005 15 2 1 5 13 0
2006 18 2 0 4 10 0
2007 18 4 1 9 16 0
TOTAL 63 9 2 20 56 0
Graduate Student Danielle Rousseau (Worcester, Mass) played in 19 games in which she started 17. She finished with two goals and one assist as she made the switch to defense this season. For her career, she played in 71 games with 20 goals and four assists for 44 points.
Danielle Rousseau’s Career Statistics
OFFENSE GP G A Pts Shots GW
2004 17 3 0 6 22 1
2005 17 7 2 16 57 0
2006 18 8 1 17 63 1
2007 19 2 1 5 13 0
TOTAL 71 20 4 44 155 2
Junior forward Chelsea Blair (Blanford, Mass.) earned an All-TCCC Honorable Mention as she tied for first in the conference with six assists this season. She started all 19 games and finished second on the team with 18 points off her six goals and six assists. Blair recorded two game winning goals this season, one against Salve Regina, the other coming against Regis College.
Junior Kaila Gray (Pembroke, N.H.) led the Bison in scoring with nine goals, which was tied for seventh in TCCC. She tied Blair for the conference lead with six assists while her 24 points ranked seventh in the conference. Gray started all 19 games and led Nichols with three game winning goals as well.
Johnson and junior Sarah Levesque (Ludlow, Mass.) split time in goal this year and did a solid job. Johnson started 14 games in net and finished with a 1.88 goals against average while also playing in the field this year finishing with five total points. She finished seventh in the TCCC with 5.31 saves per game. Levesque played 18 games in goal with one shutout against Eastern Nazarene.
Freshman Kensey Marsland (Ware, Mass.) started 16 games and was tied for third on the team in points with nine. Against Pine Manor, she recorded two goals and one assist.
Sophomore Lindsey Barbo (Natick, Mass) played in 18 games in which she started two and finished fifth on the team with seven points, including a two goal, one assist performances against Pine Manor.
Sophomore Kate O’Hara (Woodstock, Conn.) played in 17 games, starting seven of them and had one goal against Newbury College.
Sophomore Kristen Andrews (Spencer, Mass.) played in 17 games, earning five starts. She finished with two goals this season, including the game-winner against Elms College in the 78th minute of the game.
Junior Kara Trzasko (Huntington, Mass) played in 10 games, starting nine up front in which she scored two goals. She missed the majority of the second half of the season due to injury.
Freshman Katelyn Delaney (Weymouth, Mass.) started all 19 games at midfield, scoring one goal and assisting on two others.
Sophomore Jen Williamson (Spencer, Mass.) finished the year with four points off one goal and two assists. She played in 15 games, starting one.
A group of talented freshmen earned starting roles in the back this season for the Bison. Freshman Sarah Rhodes (Auburn, Mass.) played in all 19 games, earning 17 starts while freshman Jessica Ferris (Springfield, Mass.) started all but one game this season. Freshman Melissa Mendall (Quincy, Mass) played in 18 games with five starts.
The Commonwealth Coast Conference Awards
All-TCCC Honorable Mention-Christina Palmerino
All-TCCC Honorable Mention-Chelsea Blair
Team Records Broken:
Consecutive Shutouts- 4
Goals scored in a game-10 vs. Pine Manor
Assists in a game-7 vs. Pine Manor
Points in a game-27(tied) vs. Pine Manor
