DUDLEY, Mass. – The Endicott field hockey team traveled to Nichols on Saturday afternoon for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup. Junior Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) scored the lone goal for the Gulls, but it was not enough as they fell to the Bison 2-1. Endicott moves to 7-8, (4-4 CCC) while the Bison stand at 5-10, (5-4 CCC).
The first frame was a battle between both squads as they pushed offensive pressure but the Bison were able to outshoot the Gulls 19-9. In the opening minutes senior goalkeeper Lizetta Solarik (Carmel, N.Y.) was slammed with offensive pressure by the Bison. She took three consecutive shots at net and was able to make all three to keep Nichols off the board.
Minutes later junior Sawchuck came back at the Bison and sent a shot at net after she found junior goalkeeper Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) off her angle but junior Nicole Simeone (Ashland, Mass.) was able to step up and make the defensive save to keep the Gulls off the board.
At 12:46 Sawchuck earned redemption after she controlled a rebound off Melanson's pads and blasted it right back at her and found the back of the net to give the Blue and Green the early 1-0 lead.
The lead would not last for long as the Bison were able to tie the game back up about three minutes later. Junior Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) was at the stroke and passed the ball to the left side to find teammate, junior Andrea Wilson (Bedford, N.H.) who was then able to slip it past Solarik to keep Nichols in the game.
Senior Amanda Glynn (Hamton, N.H.) had a great opportunity at 17:54 to get to lead back after she took two consecutive shots in front of the net but Melanson was able to make the two stops to keep the game at a goal apiece.
Three minutes later it was the Bison's turn to have a chance at another tally when Orszulak ripped a shot at Solarik but she was able to make the save, however Lindsey Rappazzo picked up the rebound off pads and sent another shot at goal but Solarik jumped back in to keep the game tied 1-1 to end the half.
The Blue and Green were able to manage Nichols scoring opportunities better in the second half as they held them to 12 shots in the frame. Five minutes into the start of the second half the Bison were awarded an offensive corner. Senior Amanda Broughton (Plymouth, Mass.) took the insert and sent it to Orszulak who then sent it back down to Broughton on the left post for the tap to take the 2-1 lead.
Endicott attempted to answer back minutes later after Glynn and Sawchuck ripped two consecutive shots in Nichols territory, but Melanson was able to come up with the stops. That would be the last opportunity for the Blue and Green as they fell to the Bison 2-1.
Nichols kept Solarik and her defensive unit very busy throughout the game as senior Emily O'Halloran (Cheshire, Conn.) earned a defensive save while Solarik came up with an impressive 17 saves on the afternoon.
Endicott will look ahead to Tuesday, October 22nd when they host cross-town rival Gordon at 4:00 p.m. Nichols will pick back up on Tuesday as well as they host CCC opponent Western New England at 7:00 p.m.
