Bison Edge AMCATS, 1-0

DUDLEY, MA - The Anna Maria field hockey team (1-3) was edged out by the Nichols College Bison (3-1), 1-0 in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon at Vendetti Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nichols struck at the 4:45 mark as Erin Kelly (Dighton, MA) sent a pass from 20 yards out to Lizz McKinnon (Quincy, MA) who then took a shot on net but was kick saved by Cassandra Micklesavage (Pottstown, PA). However, Mckinnon followed up her shot, collected the rebound, and put the ball past Mickelsavage for the first and only goal of the game. 
• The Bison continued their offensive threat in the second quarter as they generated eight shots, but were turned away each time including two great kick saves from Mickelsavage at the 13:15 and 12:47 points of the contest. Nichols almost tacked on a buzzer-beater goal at the end of the second as Carlee Tolley (Chatham, MA) found an opening in the defense to Kelly but was stopped in front of the box as Mackenzie Tierney (Sanford, ME) made the clutch defensive save to preserve the one goal deficit. 
• In the third, the competitive play continued on both sides and the AMCATS had multiple opportunities to tie the game, but just could not find the back of the net. With 3:54 left in the third, Chayna Bingham-Hendricks (Mashpee, MA) sent a cross pass into the scoring zone and was deflected off Lauren Lapierre (Worcester, MA)'s stick to Allyson Shaw (Holden, MA) for the deflection attempt, but was kicked away by Bison goalie Hannah Seigel (New Milford, CT). At the end of the third, the AMCATS had two penalty corners to try and tie the game but were turned away each time from shots by Lapierre and Shaw. 
• As the fourth quarter was underway, Anna Maria again saw more chances to score, but the Bison defense played equally as tough as the AMCATS defense did today. 36 seconds into the fourth, Shaw tried to send in a pass from 15 yards out but went just wide of a couple of AMCAT student-athletes in front of the net to tap the ball in. Mickelsavage continued to keep the 'Cats in the contest with multiple saves in the fourth which included a nice kick save during a scrum in front of the net with about five minutes to go. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Micklesavage ended up with eight saves on the day. This marks her fourth straight game with at least five saves or more. 
• Fellow goalie, Seigel made four saves on the afternoon for the Bison.
• Lapierre and Shaw both tied for the team lead in shots with three, and Bingham-Hendricks rounded out the top three with one shot.
• Anna Maria outshot Nichols in the third quarter, 5-2. 

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria continues their road trip as they travel to Simmons on Saturday, September 14 at 11:00 AM. Nichols homestand rolls on when they face Becker College, Saturday, September 14 at 11:00 AM.

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