Bison top Anchorwomen for second win of season

Recap, photo courtesy of Nichols College

DUDLEY, Mass. – Senior Lindsay O'Connell and sophomore Miranda Smith each scored four goals as the Nichols College women's lacrosse team scored a 19-12 win over Rhode Island College Thursday night in non-conference action at Vendetti Field.
 
Senior Mellissa LaFleur collected four points (1-3-4) and secured 12 draw controls for the Bison (2-4), who outshot the Anchorwomen 50-25 and forced 26 turnovers. Junior Kirsten Sullivan picked up five points on three goals and two helpers while senior Rachel Birmingham and freshman McKenna Gernander each found the back of the net twice.
 
Senior Jessica Trautman scored four goals and won eight draw controls for RIC (1-5), which also saw classmate Alasondra Apici strike for four goals and freshman Lily Fortin notch five points (2-3-5). Junior goaltender Julia Eaton stopped 19 shots.
 
The Bison scored five-straight goals in the first to open up a 7-2 lead, highlighted by a pair from Smith. They carried a 9-6 lead into the half, then scored the first three goals of the second half to extend the lead to 12-6. Trautman ripped off two goals in a span of 19 seconds to bring the Anchorwomen to within four (12-8) before four-straight goals from NC made the score 16-8 midway through the stanza. The lead never dipped below five goals the rest of the way.
 
Seniors Olivia Normandin and O'Connell, along with sophomores Danielle Kozloski and Emily Eagan, each caused two turnovers. Eagan made 10 saves to record her second win of the season.
 
All-Time Series
Tonight's contest marked the ninth all-time meeting between Nichols College and Rhode Island College. The Bison have won two-straight but still trail the series, 6-3.