Bison defeat Seahawks in CCC field hockey

DUDLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Erin Kelley (Dighton, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal late in the second half to propel the Nichols College field hockey team to a 4-3 win over Salve Regina University Wednesday night in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action at Vendetti Field.

Kelley finished the night with two goals and an assist as the Bison have won four of their last five contests – including three of the last four CCC matches. Nichols also received three defensive saves – two from sophomore MacKenzie McDonald (Pembroke, Mass.) and one from freshman Liza Phillips (Simsbury, Conn.) – to snap a seven-game losing skid to the Seahawks.

The Bison jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind goals from freshman Dana Edwards (Georgetown, Mass.) at 20:21, Kelley at 24:55, and junior Courteney White (Orange, Mass.) at 33:40. Edwards seventh of the season came off a rebound of a shot from Kelley, Kelley's first of the night polished off a long run down the left side of the field, and White's shot off an insertion from Kelley found its way into the back of the net.

The Seahawks cut their deficit to two 5:04 into the second half on freshman Tori Bickel's (Harleysville, Pa.) 12th goal of the season. Ten minutes later, sophomore Ashley Cody's (Pawling, N.Y.) 21st marker of the season made it 3-2 with a turnaround shot that ricochet off the right post and in. Senior Amber Cody (Pawling, N.Y.) knotted the score at three when she knocked in her own rebound at 50:07.

Just over one minute after Cody's tying goal, White sent a pass over to Kelley, who cut around SRU senior goalie Jessie Severino (Branford, Conn.) and potted her fifth goal of 2017. Sophomore goalie Brooke Marion (Guilford, Mass.) and the NC defense made the lead stand up despite being outshot 19-4 over the final 35 minutes.

The Seahawks closed the game with a 27-13 edge in shots. Severino finished the night with four saves while Misbach turned aside eight.

All-Time Series
Tonight's contest marked the 36th all-time meeting between Salve Regina University and Nichols College. The Bison snapped a seven-game losing skid with tonight's win but still trail the series, 20-16.

Next Up?
Nichols (8-9, 3-8 CCC) – Saturday, October 28 @ UNE, 12:00 p.m.
Salve Regina (10-7, 7-5 CCC) – CCC playoffs, TBD