Nichols Slips Past Fitchburg State, 1-0

Kirouac collects six saves for the Falcons

FITCHBURG, Mass. (September 27, 2012) – Senior Kimberly Cummings (Woodbridge, Va/Woodbridge) registered the game-winning marker with just under five minutes remaining in regulation to lift Nichols College past Fitchburg State,1-0 in non-conference women's soccer action this evening.

Following a scoreless first half, Fitchburg State nearly took the lead in the 73rd minute of action as freshman Nicole Perez (Jamestown, R.I./North Kingstown) collected a loose ball in front of the net, but Nichols goalie Melissa Toomey (Saugus, Mass./Saugus) was able make the save.

That set the stages for Cummings game-winner at the 85:05 mark as Cummings collected the ball off a corner kick by senior Erica Silvia (Middletown, R.I./Middletown) and tucked the ball inside the near post for her first collegiate score to put the Bison up 1-0.

 In the opening frame, Fitchburg State nearly broke the 0-0 stalemate in the 10th minute of action when sophomore Jessica Sullivan (Milton, Mass./Milton) blasted a shot from the middle of the field that sailed just over the crossbar.

The Falcons continued to pressure the offensive end as freshman Jacqueline Walker (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) and sophomore Kayla Philbrick (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee Comp) saw chances turned away by Toomey.

Throughout the contest, Fitchburg State out shot Nichols 13-10, while limiting the Bison to just one corner. Between the pipes, junior Jillian Kirouac (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) stopped six shots for the Falcons, while Toomey made seven saves for the Bison.

Fitchburg State (1-9, 0-2 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it hosts Mass. Maritime Academy at 2 p.m. Nichols College (3-4-2, 0-2-0 TCCC) will visit Gordon College on Saturday at 1 p.m.