BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Grace Murphy (Montclair, Va.) and freshman Lindsay O'Connell (Danvers, Mass.) led all scorers with four goals each, as the Nichols College women's lacrosse team defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 14-10, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference played at Sweeney Field.
With the win the Bison improve to 3-7 overall and 2-3 in league play while the Leopards drop to 3-6 (0-5).
Nichols jumped ahead with three straight goals from three separate scorers to begin the game. Sophomore Molly Dufresne (Plaistow, N.H.) scored the first Leopards' goal off a free position shot at 20:04. The Bison then scored another three straight, with a pair from O'Connell to lead 6-1. Sophomore Amanda Dexter (Harvard, Mass.) then scored her seventh of the year to give Wentworth its second score. Murphy scored at 12:36 to make it 7-2. The Leopards then scored two straight by junior Pam Mudge (Hooksett, N.H.) and Dufresne to make it 7-4. Senior Alyssa Bufis (Linden, N.J.) wrapped up the scoring in the first to put the Bison up 8-4 at half.
Sophomore Brandie Holland (Lynn, Mass.) scored the first goal of the second half to bring Wentworth within three. Murphy put up her third goal to make it 9-5 with 26:41 left. Senior Jessica Houghton (Billerica, Mass.) scored at 22:00 on a free position shot to give Wentworth its sixth goal. Nichols used a 3-0 spurt to go up 12-6 with 19:08 left. Senior Alexandrea Banks (Ellington, Conn.) scored her 10th goal of the year at 17:44 to make it 12-7.
The Bison led by as many as six with 6:16 left, however late goals from Dufresne and Houghton, coming 1:19 apart, rounded out the scoring.
Murphy also added an assist, scooped up seven ground balls, and caused four turnovers. Senior Erica Antonison (Albertson, N.Y.) and Bufis each finished with a pair of goals with Bufis also causing three turnovers.
Dufresne finished with three goals with Houghton and Holland adding two each. Senior Beverly Farris (Palmer, Mass.) had six ground balls and classmate Alexandrea Banks (Ellington, Conn.) caused five turnovers.
Sophomore Katherine Cotton (Kennebunk, Maine) made six saves for the Bison. Senior Robyn Pacini (Stoneham, Mass.) made seven stops for the Black & Gold. Shots were even at 24-all while Nichols had edges in ground balls (33-26) and draw controls (19-7).
Both teams have non-conference contests tomorrow as Nichols is at Mount Ida and Wentworth is at Colby-Sawyer.
