Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Sophomore Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) poked home the game-winner off a pass from senior Emily Widdison (Greenfield, Mass.) with 4:19 gone in overtime to give third-seeded Nichols College a 4-3 win over second-seeded University of New England in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Field Hockey Championship semifinal match contested Thursday evening (Nov. 1) at the Big Blue Turf.

The Bison (13-7) advance to meet top-seeded Endicott College (a 2-1 overtime winner against No. 4 Gordon College) on Saturday in the tournament final. The Nor'easters will now await word on a possible bid into the ECAC Championship; the field will be released later in the day on Monday.

It was the third overtime game between the teams this season -- UNE rallied to capture a 4-3 win at home on October 9, while Nichols secured a 2-1 double overtime triumph at home on October 23.

Widdison got the scoring started in the 4th minute with her league-leading 24th goal of the season, but Big Blue responded less than four minutes later as junior Casey Clark (Bethlehem, N.H.) tipped in a deflection by classmate Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) to even things at 1-1. Tavella's redirect came on a drive off the stick of senior Laura Egounis (Boscawen, N.H.).

Egounis then moved the hosts in front in the 13th minute, blasting one into the right side-netting after receiving a pass from senior Emily Koehler (Pelham, N.H.).

The Bison leveled the match at 2-all in the 24th minute, when sophomore Jenn Townsend (Wethersfield, Conn.) put in a rebound at the left post.

It remained 2-2 at halftime, with Nichols holding a slim 10-8 edge in shots and no difference in penalty corners (5-5).

Nearing the midway point of the second half, Widdison collected the long rebound off her own shot and fed junior Amanda Broughton (Plymouth, Mass.) that gave the Bison the advantage (3-2) on the scoreboard.

UNE drew even once again in the 59th minute, as Koehler tucked a penalty stroke just inside the right post.

Both sides had chances down the stretch and into the initial stages of overtime, however the respective defenses were up to the task -- until Orszulak slipped in the deciding marker.

Sophomore Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) recorded eight stops for Nichols, which finished with a 20-18 cushion in shot attempts.

Melanson's counterpart, UNE sophomore Kaitlyn Warren (Boscawen, N.H.), turned in nine saves on the night. Egounis also had a defensive save in the first period.


(revised 11/2/12 11:30 p.m.)