Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Nichols College scored twice in the final 15 minutes to overcome a one-goal deficit and defeat the University of New England, 2-1, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference men's soccer action Saturday afternoon at Barbara J. Hazard Field.

The Bison (14-2-1, 10-1-1 TCCC), with their sixth straight win and today's loss by Salve Regina University, take over sole possession of first place in the conference standings with one game remaining on the schedule.

Following ties in each of their last two outings, the loss drops the Nor'easters (3-8-5, 1-7-4 TCCC) to 0-5-1 in the last six meetings with Nichols.

Just past the midway point of the first half, UNE sophomore Ethan Wells (Franconia, N.H.) sent a ball into open space behind the defense that the Nichols goalkeeper came rushing out to clear. Junior Kiel Hiller (Galloway, N.J.) chased it down after a big bounce and lunged to touch it first, lobbing a shot from 25 yards away into the open net.

For Hiller, it was his second straight game with a goal after returning from an early-September injury.

The Bison failed to get a shot on target during the opening period, and Big Blue led, 1-0, at the break.

Nichols pressed forward right from start of the second half, forcing UNE senior goalie Jon Planer (Yarmouth, Maine) to make a pair of diving stops early on to keep the visitors off the board.

Junior Daniel Smith (Verona, N.J.) finally broke through at the 75:09 mark, putting a free kick from just outside the box around the wall in front and into the lower left corner of the goal.

The Bison grabbed the lead 6:40 later when senior Matthew Nash (West Springfield, Mass.) placed a through ball down the middle for first-year Brendan Whitson (Auburn, Mass.) to run on to. Whitson took a couple dribbles to get past the closest defender and slipped a low shot into the back of the net for the game-winner.

In the final stanza, Nichols out-shot the hosts by a 13-2 margin.

Junior Brendan Hamilton (North Attleboro, Mass.) made four saves for the Bison, while Planer also turned away four shots.

Both teams conclude the regular season this week. Nichols hosts Curry College on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.), and UNE visits Eastern Nazarene College on Wednesday (7 p.m.). That match will be played at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Mass.