Nichols Rallies Past Fitchburg State, 3-2 (OT)

Jacobs posts program-best 106 career point in Falcons victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (September 15, 2011) – Senior Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) collected a pair of goals this evening but the Nichols College field hockey team rallied from two goals down to defeat Fitchburg State, 3-2 in non-conference action.

With four points on the evening, Jacobs solidified her name in the Fitchburg State record books, becoming the program's all-time leading scorer with 108  career points. Jacobs surpassed the previous mark of 105, set by Amy Kosiewski during the 1993 season.

In the first half, Jacobs gave Fitchburg State the early edge, setting the program's all-time mark just 8:05 into the game. The senior forward grabbed a feed from classmate Mari Roma (Foxborough, Mass./Foxborough) and deposited it top-shelf for her team-leading ninth goal of the season. The duo hooked up again less than 20 minutes later as Jacobs buried a shot just inside the circle for her second goal of the contest.

Play steadied over the first 20 minutes of the second half with both teams receiving ample opportunities on net. Nichols eventually broke its scoring drought late in the period as junior Emily Widdison (Greenfield, Mass./Greenfield) put the Bison on the board in the 60th minute. Widdison, converted a back-handed shot across the left side of the net, cutting the Bison deficit to one (2-1).       

With four minutes remaining, Nichols knotted the score (2-2), forcing the contest into a 15 minute, 7-vs-7 overtime period. The Bison aggressively pursued its second goal of the contests, rilfing off shot after shot inside the box. Finally, freshman Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) gave Nichols the boost, connecting for her third goal of the season after gaining her own rebound in front of the net.

In the extra frame, Nichols took advantage of the period's lone penalty corner, scoring just four minutes into the stanza to earn the victory. Orszulak capped the game's scoring in the 75th minute touching for her second goal of the contest with a flurry in front of the net.

Down the stretch, freshman goalkeeper Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) played strong for the Bison, turning away seven of Fitchburg State's second half shots. Melanson finished the contest with 15 saves , while sophomore Rachel Mays (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) stopped nine shots in the complete game effort for the Falcons.

Fitchburg State (3-2, 1-0 LEC) will be back in action on Saturday as it travels to Keene State College 1:30 p.m. Nichols (3-1, 0-0 CCC) will host Gordon College on Saturday at 12 p.m.