DUDLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Lizz McKinnon scored the eventual game-winning goal eight minutes into the second half as the Nichols College field hockey team edged Lasell College 2-1 in the season opener for both Friday evening at Vendetti Field.
Freshman Mackenzie Snow added her first collegiate goal late in the first half, and both senior Erin Jillson and junior Erin Kelley collected assists for the Bison (1-0).
Lasell, which outshot the hosts 25-16 and held a 14-3 edge in penalty corners, got on the board late as senior Nikki Pignone (Ipswich, Mass.) scored at 68:48 with an assist from junior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass.).
Jillson helped get the scoring starting with 1:09 left in the first half. She collected a ball off a corner and took a shot towards Lasell freshman keeper Makena Leazer (Nashua, N.H.) Snow was in front and deflected Jillson's shot into the net. Early in the second half, Kelly sent a cross in from the left corner to McKinnon, who was waiting in traffic and buried the pass at 42:53.
The Bison were able to hold off the Lasers for the final seven minutes and seal the first victory of the year. Junior goalkeeper Brooke Misbach recorded 15 saves for the Bison.
Lasell gets right back into action Saturday at 1:00 p.m. with a non-conference match-up at Becker College. Nichols plays again Tuesday, September 4 vs Clark University at 7:00 p.m.
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